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Air Seychelles supports Mike Ballard Rugby Foundation goodwill missions |01 July 2016

. Health ministry receives donation of 20 wheelchairs

 

Air Seychelles is supporting the Mike Ballard Rugby Foundation by sponsoring its Conquistadors team air travel and shipment of cargo for a goodwill mission to Seychelles and Madagascar.

On its way to Madagascar from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Mr Ballard and the Conquistadors rugby team transited through Seychelles during which time he handed over 20 wheelchairs to Health Minister Mitcy Larue, received a donation of rugby kits from the Seychelles Rugby Association as well as T-shirts and caps sporting the national airline’s logo.

Upon disembarking from the plane Mr Ballard and his team were welcomed by Minister Larue, Air Seychelles’ chief executive Roy Kinnear, National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau, representatives of the Seychelles Rugby Association, other high officials from the Health Ministry and staff of the national airline.

It was a moment of excitement for the Conquistadors and Mr Ballard who is himself confined to a wheelchair and still following rehabilitation treatment after he suffered a spinal injury during the West Asia Champion Club final on April 4, 2014.

During its mission to Madagascar, the team will donate a range of medical equipment to the Aide Manjakasoa Rehabilitation Facility.

The squad will lead rugby coaching clinics for junior players, hand over rugby kits, boots and other gear, as well as take on the Malagasy national rugby team, named the Makis after the ring-tailed lemur, in a match on July 3. The Makis are currently ranked number 41 in the world.

With more than 20,000 registered players and 410 rugby clubs, rugby is considered the national sport of Madagascar, and the exhibition match involving the Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors rugby team is expected to draw a crowd of over 30,000 fans.

“Air Seychelles is extremely proud to support this goodwill mission, which will benefit many people with mobility and physical impairments in both Seychelles and Madagascar. In addition to providing much-needed medical equipment, this initiative will also contribute to the development of rugby in the Indian Ocean region,” Mr Kinnear said.

He added: “We’re happy that as the national airline we can play our part in increasing engagement in sports. What this tour also demonstrates is the significant contribution of our four-per-week Antananarivo service to the growth of people-to-people, government and cultural ties, between our island countries as well as other markets such as the UAE.”

Mike Ballard, manager of the Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors rugby team, said: “The support of the rugby community was a major driving force in getting me through my darkest hour when I was injured in 2014, and we formed the Conquistadors team soon after so we could help out other rugby communities around the world. On top of being a good chance for us to further the sport of rugby, this trip is also an opportunity to improve the lives of people who may have suffered a spinal injury or have mobility problems for other reasons. I want to thank Air Seychelles for making this goodwill mission possible.”

For her part Minister Larue said: “We are thrilled to receive this generous donation of wheelchairs, which will go a long way towards improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, the elderly and other patients with mobility problems in Seychelles. The fact that it is coupled with the promotion of sports, which are an essential component of healthy living, makes this initiative doubly positive.”

Minister Larue went on to add that “on the occasion of our 40th Independence Day anniversary I am proud and honoured to see the continuation of a long-standing partnership between Air Seychelles and the Ministry of Health”.

Thanking Mr Ballard and the foundation she said the donation came at an opportune time when the health services are facing some challenges when it comes to the availability of such equipment.

Winston Cowie, the Air Seychelles Mike Ballard Foundation Conquistadors team’s coach, said: “This year is our first attempt at organising a goodwill mission and the response from the rugby community has been incredible, with clubs from the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, as well as Seychelles, gathering rugby kits and gear for donation. This goodwill mission to Seychelles and Madagascar would not have been possible without the support of Air Seychelles, whose generosity and ‘Creole spirit' enabled us to achieve our goal.”

The team boarded a flight to Antananarivo later the same morning, where Air Seychelles launched an additional fourth weekly service a day before – on June 28.

 

 

 

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