FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Big-hearted Freeport businessmen may be finding the economy tough but are still ready to help out those less fortunate than themselves.

Their caring attitude over the last five years has resulted in 150 deprived or otherwise deserving kids being given sponsored places on the island?s most popular summer camp ? the Premier League Soccer Camp - to be held June 22 to June 26.

And they are keeping up the tradition this year, showing a strongly supportive community spirit despite tough trading conditions for many of them.

Businesses which have offered to underwrite places at the camp, aimed at six-to-16-year-olds, include Star General Insurance, Paint Fair, The Uniform Store, Records and Archiving Management, Care Maintenance, GB Tank Cleaning Company, Bahamas Hot Mix Co., Newport Construction, and GB Power Company.

?It is relatively easy to support good causes when times are good but, when people still stand up and are counted after a year or two of declining revenues or poor profits, it is really heartwarming. We are particularly delighted to receive the support of small companies which have smaller resources but big hearts nonetheless,? said camp organiser Richard Malcolm. ?We would like to give 30 or so scholarships again but appreciate how difficult it is for businesses anyway and they are no doubt getting more calls for help than ever this year.?

The camp, which is being held at the rugby club in East Settlers Way from June 22 to June 26, offers its participants an outstanding package. In addition to 30 hours of top-level coaching led by legendary ex-soccer star Luther Blissett and vacationing pro coaches from the UK, they are each given two full soccer uniforms and a camp t-shirt, as well as enjoying a nutritious lunch each day and fruit morning and afternoon.

Completed registration forms are beginning to flow in. This year attendance is first come, first served, with the damage caused by arsonists at the rugby club meaning numbers are having to be strictly limited to 175.

?We don?t want to disappoint anyone, particularly previous attendees who had a great time and want to come back. But we have to be realistic,? said Malcolm. ?It is hard not to be resentful as well. The retards who were responsible ? who still haven?t been arrested by police ? have victimised kids. Seventy-five per cent of those kids at every camp are Bahamians, many of them no doubt more needy than the arsonists themselves.?

Registration forms for the camp, available to download click HERE, from www.bahamasrugbyfootball.com; or by emailing derek.archer1@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , can be handed in during working hours along with the $175 fee, at Town and Country, Yellow Pine Street, or Animale, Port Lucaya Marketplace.

Distribution of uniforms will take place at the rugby club on the afternoons of Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, from 2pm until 4pm each day.

Companies who would like to help with sponsored places or anyone who would like further information about the camp should email derek.archer1@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Photo: This year?s camp colours modeled by three veteran campers.