100 students benefit from Castaways, MBS partnership

Tue, Sep 6th 2016, 10:29 AM


Castaways Resort and Suites, and Mind, Body and Soul Fitness partnered for an Aerobathon and Back-to-School Giveaway on Saturday, September 3, which attracted a large number of residents. (Photo: Abria Cooper)

A large number of Grand Bahamians received a good workout and school supplies on Saturday (September 3) at the Aerobathon and Back-to-School Giveaway held at Castaways Resort and Suites in collaboration with Mind, Body and Soul Fitness.

Vernan Grant the Sales and Marketing Manager for Castaways spoke to The Freeport News about the event.

“Right now we are collaborating with Mind, Body and Soul to put on this back to school venture for the kids in our community. So, we partnered with them to show that this is a part of our giving back process,” he said.

The day started off with the aerobathon sponsored by Mind, Body and Soul Fitness around 5:30 a.m. Then once participants returned to Castaways the first, second, and third place finishers, all, received prizes for their efforts, along with the children who got school supplies from the giveaway.

Owner of Mind, Body and Soul Fitness, Alice Williams, also spoke to this daily about the initiative.

“Our partnership is with Castaways… we were honored that they contacted us to join up with them for our back-to-school giveaway,” she said.

According to Williams every year Mind, Body and Soul Fitness hosts a back to school aerobathon along with a workout for teachers for about two hours and then hand out school supplies.

She noted that most of the time they host those events alone, but sometimes partner with other companies. Williams stated that Grand Bahama, as an entire community, is going through so much stress and that is why it is important for people to participate in events like this.

“All of the fitness groups in Grand Bahama, we try to come together and do something for the betterment of our Bahamas,” she said.

Williams was very appreciative of Castaways’ invitation to partner with her fitness company and revealed that the first prizewinner of the aerobathon received a brand-new laptop and the second and third prize winners got medals for their efforts.

Williams noted that everyone should stay tuned because in November her company is having a Turkey Run. It will start from Castaways Resort and Suites, onto the airport circle and return to the hotel. First, second and third place winners of that run will receive turkeys as prizes.

Sherell Bullard participated in the aerobathon and commented on the event.

“It was an opportunity for both organizations to give back to the community,” she said.

She noted that it was a good experience because not only did she do something healthy for herself, but was able to contribute in some way to the community.

“We all came together where we, the hotel, would then provide the gift bags for the students going back to school. So, we partnered together to bring awareness of the resort, awareness of the restaurant and awareness of our community. The Aerobathon speaks to the physicality of the people and the giveaway speaks to the mental capacity that a lot of children achieve through schools, with the tools that are given to them,” Grant explain-ed.

The giveaway bags, which were Castaway backpacks included various school supplies – two composition notebooks, pencils, and erasers and other basic school necessities.

According to Grant they made sure to have enough bags for at least 100 students.

“We made a contribution to the first 100 kids, along with that they will get a fruit basket and also another basket filled with treats filled with candy and snacks. We just want everyone to know that Castaways is here for the entire community and we are sensitive to their needs,” he finally stated.

Thirteen-year-old Franklin Hepburn found out about the giveaway from the local media, he told this daily that he is looking forward to the new school year, at Jack Hayward Junior High on Monday (today).

By Abria Cooper

Freeport News/Guardian

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