Teams competing in this year’s Red Cross ‘Red Hot Challenge’ sports extravaganza, set for Saturday, May 20, could end up with some of the country’s top or budding athletes on their teams through a raffle process.
The second annual staging of the event scheduled again for the National Stadium in Providenciales, should be a mouthwatering exercise, as no teams know which athlete they will get, to boost their chances of winning the coveted bragging rights.
The new addition to the this year’s event was announced at a news conference held at the Red Cross office on Providenciales, Wednesday, April 26, and according to Director Candianne Williams, much more exciting activities are on the cards.
Among the activities are track races, push-up competition, egg-tossing, arm wrestling, and egg and spoon races.
In the Red Hot Challenge, business places or community groups will have the opportunity to form themselves in teams, to compete for prizes and bragging rights. One company or community organization can have more than one teams, according to the organizers.
To boost the already stiff rivalry among the teams, the organisers have decided to include the added attraction of the seasoned athletes to stimulate excitement.
TCI Commonwealth Games representative Ifeanyi Otuonye, who is also one of the organisers, said the athletes are excited to be part of the affair.
“This year is going to be special…the teams are going to have an opportunity to enter a raffle to pick one of the high powered athletes of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which I am included,” Otuonye said.
He added: “We have Delano Williams, who is also included, Angelo Garland, Courtney Missick and others. So, these are some of the names you will have the opportunity to pick from the raffle.”
He pointed out that if a team does not get an ‘A’ athlete, they would be able to get a ‘B’ athlete, as a number of the boys and girls who participated at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas will be available for the raffle.
There will only be one athlete per team.
The athletes will only allow to participate in three events, to not take away the amateur appeal from the event.
“We won’t be able to run every single event, but we will be there to give advice and have some fun,” Otuonye said.
In the meantime, Williams pointed out that it is critical for the business sector and community groups to participate in the event because it is a worthy cause.
“It is an opportunity for different sectors of the community to come together and have fun competing in a fun way, as they do that, they are helping humanity,” she said.
She said admission to enter the stadium is $5 for adults, and children under 12 are free to enter the complex. She asking everyone to come out and support the event even if they are not participating, noting that vendors booths will also be there.
Paula Garland, a member of the TCI Red Cross and also one of the organizers echoed Williams’ sentiments.
“It is a fundraising effort, and these funds go towards disaster preparedness. As you know, we live in a hurricane zone, and we have to look forward to preparing. So, once you support the Red Cross, we would be able to support the community,” Garland said.
The raffle for the local athletes will take place on May 13, which will also mark a warm-ups session for the participating teams.
Williams said the Red Cross is working to raise $50,000 from this year’s Red Hot Challenge.