WI cricketers visit School for Children with Special Needs

Four West Indies cricketers currently in St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of the two-test series against Bangladesh in the West Indies took time off from training last Wednesday to visit the School for Children with Special Needs (SCSN).

The cricketers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Shillingford and {{more}}Kirk Edwards were accompanied to the Fernside based institution by marketing manager at Digicel Juno DeRoche and marketing executive Danielle Cupid.

Commenting on the visit, Shillingford, who showed an intense interest in the operations at the school said that he was extremely happy to make the visit.

“I feel privileged because coming here to see especially the good work the teachers are doing with the kids is quite awesome, because you know is not a lot of people that take time to spend with kids that are less fortunate”, said the Dominican, a right arm bowler.

He added, “I always had a passion for kids like who are challenged like this and I feel a great joy in just seeing these kids. When they come here they can’t do certain things and when they leave they can, so that’s good.”

Shillingford also praised the teachers working at the school.

“I’m glad to see the teachers enjoying themselves and the kids are hyped,” he added while stressing that the entire team is ready and willing to give their best during the test matches which begin at the Arnos Vale Playing Field today Friday, September 5.

“We are going to give it our all in the test and we are looking forward to it” said Shillingford.

Digicel’s DeRoche said that she was glad the cricketers were able to visit the children, as the visit, which is not the first by West Indies cricketers, is something that brings joy and excitement to the students.

“Some of them are quite knowledgeable about the game and know the players so they are happy to get this visit and interact with the players,” said DeRoche.

The Digicel team, with the help of the cricketers distributed water bottles to the students and teachers at the school. The school’s principal Naseem Smith also received two t-shirts signed by all the West Indies Cricketers.

The West Indies face Bangladesh at Arnos Vale today in the beginning of the first of two five day test matches September 5 to September 9.

They move on to to St. Lucia for matches September 13 to September 17.