The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE his main focus is on preparing for the upcoming track and field season, Olympian Andretti ‘Da Bahamian Dream’ Bain took time out to show his support for one of the homes housing less fortunate children in our society.

Bain, through his business ‘Da Bahamian Dream’ Sports & Lifestyle Nutrition, spent some time on Wednesday at the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel where he made a donation and brought some cheer to residents of the home.

“It’s a blessing being able to take the time to reach out and personally shop for and make a donation of food and new underclothes on behalf of myself and my business to the 36 kids at the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel,” he said on Facebook. “We don’t have to be rich to help, all it requires is love and sacrifice,” he said.

Nikita Smith, the administrative assistant at the children’s home, said the gesture could not have come at a more opportune time. “It’s good to know that he thought about the kids and came here to spend some time with them,” Smith said. “He spoke with them, telling them what it means to win a medal and to be a winner.”

The highlight of the visit was not so much the goodies that Bain left, but the interaction he shared with the youngsters when he challenged them to a race.

Unfortunately, none of the residents were able to beat the Olympic 200/400 metre runner, who has switched from the 400m hurdles that he dominated in high school at St John’s College.

“Just to know that he was here and they had an opportunity to run with him was very nice,” Smith said.

She noted that Bain told them that he’s hoping that others will follow suit and make their contribution as well.

Bain, coming off a fifth place finish on the men’s 4 x 200 metre relay team of Deneko Brown, Alfred Higgs and Blake Bartlett at the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015 earlier this month, is preparing to make the Bahamas team for the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada in July and the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, in August.

The 29-year-old Bain was a member of the men’s 4 x 400 team that secured a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The Oral Roberts University graduate is married to volleyball player Cheryse Rolle-Bain, who is also involved in his business.