Olympic star Fraser gives back
WORLD and Olympic 100m champion Shelly Ann Fraser has been using her athletic achievements to help implement social change in Jamaica and wider afield.
Fraser, who was on Monday officially appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Jamaica, has also entered into partnership with Grace Foods and not-for-profit organisation PALS (Peace and Love in Society), and is now the Grace Goodwill Ambassador for Peace for 2010.
The athlete, who grew up in the inner-city community of Waterhouse, will lead the Peace Day celebrations and concert at the Homestead Primary School in St Catherine on Peace Day, March 2.
Fraser was also the brainchild behind a benefit dinner on Monday evening to help raise funds for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
Members of the public who were chosen through a raffle were special guests at dinner with Fraser and other top track and field stars, including Olympic gold medallists Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Melaine Walker and Michael Frater; silver medallists Sherone Simpson, Germaine Mason and Shericka Williams, as well as World 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, at the Ambrosia Restaurant at the Acropolis Gaming Centre.
Funds from the raffle will go towards UNICEF-administered aid efforts in the country which was ravaged by the January 12 earthquake.
“Whatever way we can help, we’re in a better position than they are right now, so I think everyone should give a helping hand,” Powell told the Observer.
“When Shelly reached out to me and asked for help, I said ‘yes’ because I would do anything to support Haiti… giving back is a great thing, and when you can give back to a country where over three million people have been affected, it’s just a great feeling for me,” said Mason, the Olympic high jump silver medal winner.
Fraser, who is studying Early Childhood Education at the University of Technology (UTech), was particularly pleased with the venture.
“If it was us, we would definitely have gotten the help, so why not extend the hand,” she said.
Robert Fuderich, UNICEF representative in Jamaica, told the Observer he was pleased with choice of Fraser.
“We thought it was a perfect marriage and we just decided to go for it.”
The 23-year-old also spoke with passion at yesterday’s PALS launch.
“I know that I will play my role well… I know what violence can do to children and I get to bring my point across to children better.
“I understand because I was there and I can give them the experience and the knowledge to just walk away and be a better person,” the petite sprinter said.