The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

FOR the first time ever, the Ranfurly Homes For Children played host to a Love That Child Walkathon and Fun Run last Saturday.

The event was established as a way to get the entire community involved in supporting the work of the Ranfurly Homes.

The Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The homes provide a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned.

For the first annual Love That Child Walkathon and Fun Run, members of the organisation partnered with the Rotaract Club of East Nassau to make the event possible. Whether people individually walked, ran or teamed up with family members as a group, the day was eventful.

The 5K exercise began at 6am at the Ranfurly grounds on Mackey Street. The route then took the walkers onto Bay Street, Montagu Park, West Bay Street, before returning to Mackey Street where a free souse-out was held for all participants.

Alexandra Maillis-Lynch, president of the Ranfurly Homes For Children’s board of directors, provided the souse.

During the souse-out, people got the chance to interact and learn more about becoming a mentor, a member or volunteer of the Ranfurly Homes.

LaToya Polacek, board member at Ranfurly, said they wanted to create an event that was enjoyable, and a walkathon was a great way to bring all sectors of the community together, from families to corporations. She said it also provided an excellent opportunity for volunteers to connect with the public.

Above all, Ms Polacek said the Ranfurly Homes for Children’s long-term work has remained focused on providing a safe, loving environment for the country’s most vulnerable children. She said it is what they have been doing since 1956 and will continue to do as long as there are children in need. Throughout the year, the Ranfurly Homes house up to 40 children between the ages of 11 and 17.

“Our daily focus is on making sure that the children receive food, clothing, an outstanding education, tutoring, and counselling services when needed, and a loving home. Additionally, through the networks that Ranfurly has forged, our children get to take part in the same activities that many of their peers experience, such as involvement in extracurricular activities including sailing, dance, swimming and sports,” said Ms Polacek.

Their greatest focus continues to be raising money for the homes so that they can provide these services. The homes costs are approximately $10,000 per week to run and they depend largely on the generosity of the public and corporations for funding.

Ms Polacek said their recent annual raffle was a huge success, raising more than $110,000. This was only possible through the hard work of the board of directors and volunteers. She said although they are grateful to all those who donated, they must continuously raise funds in order to meet the needs of the homes.

“Through the funds raised we will be able to continue housing, feeding, clothing and educating the children that we nurture. Being able to provide this service is priceless to our community. If we didn’t provide this service these children would not have a safe place to grow up.

And it is not only the children who gain from events like the recent walkathon.

“The Walkathon and Fun Run benefits the general public by promoting exercise and bringing the community together in a productive, peaceful way. It also benefits local businesses by giving them an opportunity to advertise, sponsor and show themselves as responsible corporate citizens who care about their community,” said Ms Polacek.

The sponsors of the Love That Child Walkathon included Commonwealth Bank (title sponsor), Bahamas Petroleum, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dasani, PowerAde, Summit Insurance and Bahamas Wholesale Agencies.

All funds raised at the event will be used directly to benefit children at the homes.