News

RBC Royal Bank (Barbados) Ltd raised BBD120,000 for students at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, during the seventh edition of the RBC Race of the Kids on Sunday.  More than 1,500 people participated in the event, which marked the return to an in-person race for the first time in three years due to the pandemic. The streets of Barbados were painted blue as runners, walkers, skaters, and toddlers in strollers braved the scorching heat to race the five-kilometre (5K) route at their own pace and space.
 

RBC’s Managing Director for Barbados, Shimon McIntosh, expressed extreme delight at the tremendous

turnout in support of the worthy initiative, which promotes youth and education in Barbados.

“Since inception in 2017, we have raised BBD 458,000 for this race, given out over 70 scholarships, and

also allocated funds to the First Year Experience program,” McIntosh said. “When we had our media

launch, we had the opportunity to hear from a young lady by the name of Tara Skeete, a phenomenal

young woman. When you listened to her testimonial about how the RBC scholarship gave her not only

financial relief but also mental relief and that she was better able to focus fully on her studies, it really

underscored and solidified why we do this race and the benefit that goes to The UWI students. It’s about

setting up our students to help them achieve success in their education…that is all made possible by

you all coming through, by your participation, by your donation. We are very thankful to have everybody

here.”

The UWI’s Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor R. Clive Landis, shared his excitement about the return to an in-person event while underscoring the event’s purpose.

“It’s really wonderful to see everyone back out after these last three years,” Professor Landis said. “We’re all united around one cause, and that cause is to support students at the University. The UWI is a public university, and we’re committed to providing access to students from all backgrounds. Sometimes, they really struggle, and they find it difficult to make ends meet. Our Office of Student Services this past year gave $100,000 in assistance to students through the Hardship Fund. Hardship is very real, and we’re here yes to have fun, but we’re also here to raise funds.”

The bank achieved the $120,000 mark from the race registration and corporate contributions.

“As an RBCer, I feel so proud to be a part of this,” said Karla Nicholls. “Education is so important, and to be able to help those that find it very difficult to get a further education makes such a huge difference, not just in their lives but in their families and the communities in which they support.”
Simone, a student at The UWI understands the struggles of some of her fellow classmates and decided to do her part to support.
“I think this is amazing because there are so many people who have issues when it comes to UWI financially. So it's nice that there is another way for people to give back and help future generations of UWI students, whether they're Bajan or not, it doesn’t matter it helps them all,” she said.
All participants were gifted medals upon completing the race. There was also lots of entertainment, warm up and cool-down exercises, a special performance by Soca Monarch Mikey, bouncy castles for the kids, and a few food vendors.

The event concluded with presentations, where the top three winners in the categories of runners, walkers, and skaters received trophies and cash prizes.
Among this year’s sponsors were RBC Capital Markets, AA KM Outdoor Advertising, Bargain Motors, Bassa Bassa, Chefette, Frosteez, Expressionism, Fossil Green, Hanschell Inniss, Illusion Graphics Inc, Nicholls Bakery, Pedialyte Sport, and Pediasure. Dawn-Lisa Callender-Smith was the race co-ordinator.
RBC Race for the Kids is a global series of charitable running events benefiting children and youth-focused causes. To date, the series has seen over 360,000 participants who have collectively raised more than CAD $82 million. Within the Caribbean, these races occur in Barbados, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Cayman Islands will host its first in-person race in April.

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