Au Cap Events Club gives back to the community |29 May 2023

Akim Issac's mother accepting the new special wheelchair from Braddy Crispin

Four Au Cap residents are the lucky beneficiaries of a Beach Fiesta fund-raising activity held on Sunday, March 26, this year, which raised R14,931.

The Beach Fiesta was organised by the Seychelles Powerboat and Jet Ski Association in collaboration with the Au Cap district authority and the Au Cap Events Club, and according to organisers it was a resounding success.

On Friday, the Au Cap Events Club chaired by James Auguste hosted a small event to present the donations to the beneficiaries. Two were present; namely the mother of Akim Issac who has received a special wheelchair and Dereck Marie who is also wheel-chair bound and who now possesses a new wheelchair.

The other two are Tolicha Marengo, who is proceeding on overseas treatment and Julienne Jean, the mother to newly born triplets, who will be receiving basic necessities.

Speaking to the local media, the district administrator, Sabrina Assary, said they have a lot of people needing assistance in the district, but they had to prioritise targeting the more pressing ones. 

“We knew that Mr Marie’s wheelchair was old and could barely move around and he could not afford one, and that Akim needed a special one as well. We were informed by Tolicha’s mother that she has received medical advice to proceed on overseas treatment and we decided to assist them as well. And of course the lady who gave birth to triplets recently whom we felt needed some help as baby products could be costly,” explained Mrs Assary.

When addressing the guests, the vice-chairperson of the Au Cap Events Club, Josemma Laporte, described the ceremony as a momentous occasion which was celebrating “the power of generosity and compassion” and that she was proud of the club for making a “tangible difference in the lives of those in our community who are most in need”.

She had a special thank you for the Power Boat and Jet Ski Association led by Braddy Crispin, that partnered with them to conduct boat and Jet Ski rides for a fee, where all the proceeds went towards the fund-raising.

She also thanked the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, which was represented by its principal secretary, Kevin Perine, for their support to organise the ceremony, as well as all individuals who turned up for the Beach Fiesta and took part in the various activities.

One of the beneficiaries, Dereck Marie who has been wheelchair-bound for over three years after falling off a tree, was thankful to the club for considering him.

“A wheelchair can last a while, but I move about a lot which can affect the wheels so it was time to replace the existing one. And I am grateful that I have a new one that I can use until I regain my mobility, which I am confident will happen one day,” said Mr Marie.

Meanwhile, the district administrator, Mrs Assary, said the Au Cap Events Club plans to host a fund-raising activity annually where proceeds will go towards various causes, as part of the club's ongoing commitment to give back to the local community.

Patsy Canaya

Photos by Louis Toussaint