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FSN can ‘absolutely’ use more Gov’t support- Judith M. Charles

- FSN & BVI HIV/AIDS Foundation receive $$ raised @ SUP event
President of Family Support Network (FSN) Judith M. Charles collects a cheque from Rahel Worde of Harneys in the presence of Jadid A. Khan (right) of Antarctica Asset Management and Joshua J. Mangeot (left), Associate of Conyers Dill & Pearman. Photo: VINO
Cid Nava (centre) of the BVI HIV/AIDS Foundation, seen here receiving a cheque from Mr Jadid A. Khan, said the Foundation is very active in the community doing HIV testing and said they are also very active on awareness for the VI for prevention of HIV. Photo: VINO
Cid Nava (centre) of the BVI HIV/AIDS Foundation, seen here receiving a cheque from Mr Jadid A. Khan, said the Foundation is very active in the community doing HIV testing and said they are also very active on awareness for the VI for prevention of HIV. Photo: VINO
Two paddle boarders start their journey from Cane Garden Bay beach. Photo: VINO/File
Two paddle boarders start their journey from Cane Garden Bay beach. Photo: VINO/File
The Stand Up Paddle boarding event was held on April 23, 2016. Photo: Provided
The Stand Up Paddle boarding event was held on April 23, 2016. Photo: Provided
Some of the sponsors, beneficiaries and participants of the fundraising Stand Up Paddle boarding event. Photo: VINO
Some of the sponsors, beneficiaries and participants of the fundraising Stand Up Paddle boarding event. Photo: VINO
BRANDYWINE BAY, Tortola, VI - The Family Support Network (FSN) and the BVI HIV/AIDS Foundation benefitted from donations of cash thanks to the benevolence of two persons who organised a fundraising Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) event - Jadid A. Khan of Antarctica Asset Management and Joshua J. Mangeot, Associate of Conyers Dill & Pearman.

The handing over of the cheques took place on Thursday evening May 5, 2016 at the Brandywine Estate Restaurant.

Following the presentation, FSN President Judith M. Charles told this news site that FSN is always grateful to all the corporate sponsors of such events.

“[We are also] grateful to the people who participate in them like Josh and Jadid who volunteered to be in these things because they are also contributors,” she said.

Charles said that while the service that the FSN provides is free to the public, everything that the FSN does costs money.

“There is no cost to the client, as everything that we provide is free to the client but they cost us money to provide. So we are always grateful for the financial contributions that come and we need the entire community to do what it is that we do,” said Charles.

Asked whether there had been any improvement in the contribution of the Government to the work of the FSN,” she said, “I don’t want to say that it has not been an improvement...it is a static amount that we have gotten for the past 11 years. So it is what it is...can we use more? Absolutely,” she said.

‘Funds will go directly to HIV positive clients’

Cid Nava of the BVI HIV/AIDS Foundation said the Foundation is very active in the community doing HIV testing and said they are also very active on awareness for the VI for prevention of HIV.

“This will go directly towards the funds of the people that are HIV positive in the Virgin Islands which we cover their medicine and to fund basically to fund all of our equipment that is needed for HIV testing. It is a very nice contribution and we are very thankful,” said Nava.

SUP has a bright future in VI- Jadid A. Khan

Jadid A. Khan said in a comment to this news site that when he and Joshua J. Mangeot started out thinking of this event, they wanted to achieve a number of things.

“Firstly we wanted to do an event which helped some very deserving causes on island. Secondly we actually really wanted to do something for the sport of paddle boarding and why that is important is because the BVI is uniquely positioned to take paddle boarding to the next level.”

He said that the paddle boarding sport has been growing exponentially since 2005 and since the VI is not a surfing destination as its waves are not big enough, this is a good opportunity for the diversification of the economy and the development of sports tourism.

“We have all of the facilities here in the beautiful British Virgin Islands that are perfect for paddle boarding...we have stops, we have restaurants...we have channels, we have beautiful bays, we have waves, we have challenging conditions. We could have the world’s most elite paddle boarding events in the BVI.”

Khan thanked Harneys whom he said has committed to making this paddle boarding event an annual one.

Paddle boarders battled rough weather for worthy cause

In a brief comment to this news site, Mangeot said that he is very proud to be able to make the contribution to the two causes, saying that the organisations do good work on the islands. “It is good to do such a fun event and a sport that we enjoy but at the end of it we raised money for a good cause.

He said that there were about 25 people who took up the challenge in rough conditions. He noted that a good number of the 25 were able to make it the whole way from Cane Garden Bay to (Sandy Spit), about four nautical miles in total.

Asked how it was for him as a paddle boarder that day, Mangeot said it was a tough battle. “Despite the conditions it was a lot of fun and the adrenalin keeps you going.” He said that he did have some paddle boarding experience so he was somewhat prepared for this challenge. It’s not the longest I have done but this is the worst weather I have had.”

4 Responses to “FSN can ‘absolutely’ use more Gov’t support- Judith M. Charles”

  • wize up (07/05/2016, 11:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    FSN should ask BVI Airways for a contribution after all government is donating a few mil to BVI Airway.... i see no harm in BVI Airways contributing to a worthwhile cause in the territory... just saying( i could be wrong, as usual)
  • Nobody (07/05/2016, 20:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should all be extremely grateful to fsn for their kind deeds...God bless.
  • Hmmmm (07/05/2016, 22:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Our people deserves no less. #TalkTheTruth


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