Waterhouse FC, Phoenix Academy executives donate $750,000 to JCS
On Sunday, December 30, last year hundreds of fans packed into the Waterhouse Stadium for the charity game between Premier league leaders Waterhouse FC and Phoenix Academy All Stars.
The Premier League leaders won the game as both teams treated the fans to some good football. The true purpose of the game, however, was to generate donations for the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) to assist children living with cancer.
The effort generated $750,000 from six key donors – Tankweld Metals, Bruce Bicknell, Donovan White, Craig Butler, Leon Bailey, and Kyle Butler.
In a presentation to Yulit Gordon – CEO, Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), at their Red Stripe Monday Night Football game on January 7, Bruce Bicknell and Craig Butler handed over the cheque for the sum raised and committed to continue to work with the JCS.
“Cancer has affected somebody we know and it feels good to be able to make a contribution to the Jamaica Cancer Society to help them to do more in helping those suffering from the disease” Bicknell said.
The Phoenix Academy and St Andrews FC (Malta) president, Craig Butler, said they are committed to helping the children.
“Cancer is not a death sentence for those who can afford to get proper treatment. I live with cancer and it is painful and heart breaking for an adult much less a child. This initiative came through the experience it has brought on my own family, my uncle died two years ago, and my wife’s second child Tamya died at nine years old, and I now face it daily. My sons and the academy came up with the idea to give back to children suffering with cancer and dedicated our winter camp and what was to be this friendly game proceeds to children fighting cancer and enlisted the Waterhouse team to join us in the initiative.
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“We trust that the Jamaica Cancer Society will dedicate these funds to help children in need and facing the disease,” Butler continued.
During the last year, Waterhouse FC celebrated 50 years since the club was founded in 1968 and had dedicated the charity game played on December 30 to their fans after what was a solid year of achievements.
“We have had so much to be thankful for over the years, making this donation to the Jamaica Cancer Society is a blessing that we feel privileged to be able to make happen and we are committed to finding new and different ways to work with the JCS going forward, to the benefit of the Waterhouse community,” remarked Donovan White, president of Waterhouse FC.
JCS’ Gordon, in thanking Waterhouse FC and Phoenix Academy, said the funds would be used by the society to increase its capacity to expand and strengthen its cancer prevention programmes among Jamaican youth.