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SVL Foundation hosts fun day for Mona Rehab residents

Published:Tuesday | March 8, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Dr David McBean head of the Supreme Ventures Foundation tries his luck in one of the wheelchair races.
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Little Ayden McPherson (left) and special Olympian Alfanso Cunningham were snapped at the Sir John Golding Rehab Centre Sports Day on Saturday.
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From left: Supreme Ventures' May Evans Lawrence, Doreen Thompson -chairman Friends of the Mona Rehabilitation Centre; Paul Hoo - chairman Supreme Ventures Limited and Dr David McBean - head of the Foundation, are happy with the success of the Sir John Golding Sports Day on Saturday, March 5.
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The patients, residents and participants in the 2016 Sir John Golding Rehab Centre Sports Day celebrate the success of the event.
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The Supreme Ventures Foundation partnered with The Friends of Mona Rehabilitation Centre to undertake a Sports Day of fun and activities for the children at the Athlone Wing, the Paediatric Ward and other persons at the facility.

The event took place on Saturday, March 5 when board members from The Friends Of Mona Rehabilitation Centre, Supreme Ventures Limited staff members and volunteers from the Foundation took part in the day's activities while interacting with patients.

In 1955, the year following the polio epidemic in Jamaica, a new wing was built at The Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (formerly Mona Rehabilitation Centre), to accommodate the children with polio who survived.

The Athlone Wing became a home to 34 severely disabled children. There are currently two dormitories one for girls and one for boys. They provide a friendly home for the children to live and be cared for while attending school in surrounding areas.Most of the children who live there are from parts of Jamaica where schools are not equipped with wheelchair ramps and other facilities.

They live at the Athlone Wing to attend schools in the area such as the Hope Valley Experimental School, which was established at Mona in 1974 specifically to accommodate physically challenged children.

Some also attend Mona Secondary School, which is also accessible to the physically disabled. Several of Jamaica's Paralympic medallists including Alphanso Cunningham, grew up at the Athlone Wing.

Supreme Ventures is known for its many contributions to community development. Through the Foundation, the company continues to aid social development projects and increase its assistance to existing programmes. It also strives to help eliminate problems affecting the less fortunate, mentally and physically challenged persons.

"We see this as our way of giving back to those who need it most. Due to their condition, most of the children are unable to participate in regular activities, and this was a great way to engage them," said May Lawrence Evans, director of the Supreme Ventures Foundation.