by Jonathan Ashby in Bequia

Almost $24,000 was raised at a fun packed charity auction in Bequia on Sunday – to benefit the island’s School for Children with Special Needs.

More than 200 yacht and boat people from as far away as Canada and Europe attended the afternoon event and helped to raise the record sum – the highest amount raised by the annual event which has been taking place for the past 17 years. {{more}}

Sunshine School supporters cleared out their cupboards and storerooms at home to donate items for the event which was in two parts.

The first part involved a stall sale of clothing, arts and craft, books, toys, kitchen utensils, crockery and a wide range of other household items.

The auction, conducted by respected Christie’s auctioneer and Bequia resident Nichola Redway, was the highlight of the day.

“She is a professional so she was very good. She made the auction itself very exciting and entertaining. She raised a lot of money and a lot of laughter,” Sunshine School headmistress Camille Jacobs told Searchlight after the event.