Principal of St Andrew High School for Girls Sharon Reid praised the contribution of FX Trader, GraceKennedy's Cambio brand in providing much needed support to the institution as they participate in this year's staging of the Penn Relays, describing the school's journey to the event as a challenging one.

St Andrew will field a delegation of 10 students to the relay Carnival.

"Getting the funds in place this year for the girls to participate in the Penn Relays was very, very stressful," Reid revealed. She made it clear that though the institution's budget made provisions to participate in Champs, additional activities like the Penn Relays had to be funded entirely by sponsorship.

operational expenses

"The school doesn't have extra monies in its operational expenses. The funds must be raised," Reid said.

Notwithstanding the efforts of parents, the alumni association and fund-raising activities by the girls themselves, finding the money to support the team was difficult.

"Even as we speak, in some instances, the girls have gone on a promise. Some of the committed funds have not yet come in, but we are confident that they will."

FX Trader, GraceKennedy's Cambio brand, gave a commitment in the form of a cheque for $100,000. The brand's Marketing Manager Kerrian Johnson explained her company's decision to get involved.

fair play

"FX Trader is a part of the GraceKennedy family. Many of the group's subsidiaries make heavy financial investments in supporting fledgling sporting talent and we readily see the value of developing our young athletes. It teaches young people the virtues of fair play, team work and time management. This is exactly the kind of investment in Jamaica and Jamaicans FX Trader and all GraceKennedy subsidiaries are committed to."

FX Trader is one of three Grace-Kennedy companies assisting in some way with Jamaica's participation in this year's Penn Relays. Western Union, another subsidiary, has also committed cash sponsorship to Team Jamaica Bickle for the 15th year, and Grace Foods has once again signed on as major sponsors of the actual games.

Class-Three hurdler Rushelle Burton is one of those athletes for which expectations are high. Having lowered the meet's 80m record at the recently concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Champs, all eyes are on her to see how she will perform on the international stage.