'Beast' Blake gives on Boxing Day birthday
Published:Saturday | December 28, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:Former World 100-metre champion and LIME ambassador Yohan 'The Beast' Blake celebrated his 24th birthday on Boxing Day by giving gifts to residents of Bogue Hill in St James.
Dubbed 'Christmas Time with Yohan Blake: Giveaways for Young and Old', the initiative, which was sponsored by his YB Afraid Foundation, WATA, Food For The Poor, and LIME, was held at the Workshop at Bogue Hill, a few metres away from Blake's family home.
"It has always been a plan for me to give back to my community. As a poor boy growing up in the community to come back and give something back, I have to thank God for all His blessings so that I can come back and do this," said Blake as he mingled with the residents.
He indicated that he would be seeking to expand the initiative to other communities in St James to also include the abused and homeless children and those in homes.
"We have big plans for the children of Montego Bay, and those who are homeless. So next year, we will include all our sponsors and we will be seeking additional sponsors from overseas to assist," Blake said.
The sprinter and members of his YB Afraid Foundation handed out gift bags to the adults.
Unfortunately, the children in attendance were left high and dry as, Blake explained, a bus laden with gifts for them had taken the wrong route and ended up in Christiana, Manchester.
A frustrated Blake said efforts would be made to get the gifts to the children at a later date.