Sheraton Gambia Hotel over the weekend held their annual Road to Awareness Fundraising drive on behalf of UNICEF UK and Charity Ride with a procession from the Traffic Lights along Kairaba Avenue to Sheraton Hotel in Brufut.
This year, the 2010 Road to Awareness Campaign aims to raise US $200,000 to support UNICEF’s School for Africa Programme in South Africa.
Speaking to journalists, shortly after the race, Rick Berendsen General Manager Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa, said School for Africa is a UNICEF programme that works in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation Institute to help provide quality basic education for 8 million children in 11 African countries.
"The donations raised by Starwood Associates in EAME will support phase 2 of the Schools for Africa Programme campaign in South Africa including the following: support for 1,500 orphans and vulnerable children in five rural schools to stay in school and complete primary education; support for development activities in 18 schools across South Africa and training for 70 teachers in child-friendly teaching methodologies (creating a safer and more caring environment) and leadership training for 20 principals.
He commended all cyclists who participated in the race describing their participation as wonderful, and he also thanked their sponsors for supporting the fundraising drive.
Mrs. Sally Sadie Singhateh, Communication Specialist with UNICEF, applauded all those cyclists who took part in the race, and called on the cyclists to keep up the momentum, adding that the time-out was good during the race.
Ms. Abby Sarr, Director of Public Relations Sheraton Gambia also added her voice to the race by commending their main partners for the support they received from them, from the onset to the tailend of the fundraising drive.
"Though I cannot ride, I decided to participate also by walking from Traffic Lights at Kairaba Avenue to Sheraton Hotel within one hour and twenty minutes," said one Ms. Biba Mousa.
The management of Sheraton Hotel at the end of the event organised refreshments for the participants.
It would be recalled that the 2009 Road to Awareness Campaign raised more than US $190, 000 for street children in Egypt.