Successful walk for Vincentian volcanic relief
By Nelson A. King
In their ongoing efforts to
provide relief to their compatriots
after April’s massive volcanic
eruptions in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, members and
supporters of the Brooklynbased
SVG Relief USA, Inc. on
Saturday held what has been
described as a “very successful”
fundraising walk-a-thon at
Marine Park in Brooklyn.
“The purpose of this event
is to continue our efforts in
helping in the recovery of St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, as
they continue to battle COVID-
19, the build back efforts of La
Soufriere Volcano and Hurricane
Ida, as well as the existent
struggle with dengue fever,”
Verna Arthur, chairperson of
SVG Relief USA, Inc., told Caribbean
Life on Monday.
“Fundraising events will
afford us the opportunity to be
in a state of continued readiness
and respond to issues and clarion
calls affecting SVG (St. Vincent
and the Grenadines),” she
added. “The walk-a-thon was a
great success. The weather was
fantastic, and I am pleased to
say that we all had a wonderful
time.”
Arthur also thanked members
responsible for coordinating
the event, “especially
Ancilla Friday, secretary of the
organization.
“A special thanks to our
walk-a-thon sponsors for your
generous support, and without
whom this event would not
have come to fruition,” she said,
also thanking elected officials,
hospitals, faith-based organizations,
small businesses, nonprofit
organizations, community
leaders, block associations,
schools, other individuals and
“our magnificent volunteers for
their amazing support/contributions
Caribbean L 28 ife, OCTOBER 15-21, 2021
toward our initial SVG
Relief drive, which began in
April this year.”
Additionally, Arthur
expressed “special thanks” to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
National Emergency Mobilization
Organization (NEMO),
Lions South, Rotary South,
SVG Red Cross Association
and the Salvation Army in SVG
“with whom we have established
partnerships for emergency
efforts, as well as the
above-mentioned ongoing
challenges in SVG.
“We are all in this together,”
she said. “Let us continue to
support our brothers and sisters.”
Participants at the Vincentian walk-a-thon at Marine Park in Brooklyn. Photo by Nelson A. King
Friday — who also coordinates
annual walk-a-thons for
her club, the Brooklyn-based
Club St. Vincent, Inc., to assist
Vincentian athletes participating
in the illustrious Penn
Relays at the Franklin Field
Stadium, at the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia –
said Saturday’s event was very
successful.
“It was a beautiful fall morning,
weather in the high 60’s
and perfect for the occasion,”
she told Caribbean Life, disclosing
that “about 30 enthusiasts,
including some committee
members participated in the
walk.”
Friday said Vincentian
Michael Hadaway, who has been
conducting warm-up sessions
for other walk-a-thons, “engaged
us in warm-up stretches, as we
prepared to walk around the
park for about five laps.”