The Family Resource Center on St. Thomas and the Safety Zone on St. John received checks totaling over $6,000 during a presentation at the Sweet Redemptive Crusade Tentorium at Mandela Circle on March 25.
Before a packed tent of church members and community guests, representatives of the St. Thomas/St. John Seventh-Day Adventist Pathfinder Clubs made the presentations as the crowning act of their many months of hard work.
The funds were raised during the second annual Pathfinder Kayak-A-Thon held on November 23, 2003, when 61 Pathfinders, their leaders and other supporters made the 6.5-mile round trip between Sapphire Beach and Cruz Bay.
Mrs. Michal Rhymer-Charles of the Family Resource Center was beaming as she received a check for $4,246.30 from justifiably proud Pathfinder Kareem McKenzie, who distinguished himself as the top fund-raiser in the two-island group.
Kareem amassed more than $500 for the event, with none of his donations exceeding $10 per individual. Soon after, Dr. Iris Kern of the Safety Zone graciously accepted a check for $2,123 from 10-year-old Pathfinder Kristen Marsh, the youngest kayaker on the team.
Thursday evening's activity was indeed a proud moment for the Pathfinders, an organization for children ages 10-15. The young people not only solicited funds, but also trained rigorously to become certified in boating and water safety to become eligible to participate in the November Kayak-A-Thon.
The kayaking activity was the brainchild of Pastor Silton Browne of the Shiloh and Agape Churches, and Area Coordinator Geoffrey Royden Fleming of the Agape congregation. These two gentlemen who were later assisted by Director Leonard "Glenn" Flaharty of the Shiloh congregation, were responding to youth who requested a positive outlet for their creative energies. The men saw the relevance of creating an activity that would be an alternative to drug addiction, crime, and other at-risk behaviors.
Because the Pathfinders are committed to their pledge to be "a servant of God and a friend to man," they determined that kayaking, though fun, could also be an avenue for benefiting the community. Thus was born the Kayak-A-Thon.
The beneficiary of the first event in 2002 was the St. Thomas Swimming Association, which received $7,613 towards the completion of a community aquatic center. The 2003 recipients are agencies dedicated to assisting battered and abused family members.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name, and the city and state/country or island where you reside.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice… click here.
