The Courtney Walsh Foundation for providing opportunities for youths and meaningful changes in their lives through cricket, was launched yesterday and already has generated $11m in sponsorship.

The Foundation, which was launched at the Mona Hockey Field, received a whopping $7.5m from the British High Commission via the United Kingdom (UK) Aid and $3.5m from telecom provider LIME Jamaica.

Wayne Lawrence, vice-president, marketing at LIME, said Walsh represents what his organisation is looking for.

Said Lawrence: “For all of us in Jamaica and for cricket fans across the world, the honourable Courtney Walsh is truly an icon. For us at LIME Courtney embodies the value that we like to promote; particularly values like integrity, diligence, community and humidity”.

He added: “Courtney is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of Test cricket. Throughout his playing career and afterwards, he has been a role model. His reputation is unblemished and whose example is unequal.”

Outgoing British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency, Jeremy Cresswell, congratulated Walsh and his Foundation.

Said Cresswell: “The work that he is now doing is tremendous. We at the British High Commission are glad to be associated with his work.”

Cresswell then handed over his symbolic sponsorship cheque and had everyone laughing when he suggested that it be cashed real soon as he will be out of office.

Walsh’s foundation, is a registered charity and will work in three main areas in:

. Street20 Cricket – a fast moving, affordable and sustainable version of the game to be introduced to an initial 12 inner city communities.

. Disability Cricket – “enabling the disabled” will involve the development of cricket programmes for three categories of disability. Visually impaired (blind), physically disabled (wheel chair) and learning disabled.

. Young Offenders project – using cricket in one of the juvenile correctional institutions to engage young offenders and support their transition from custody to community.

There are other long-term projects which will include the establishment of a Cricket Centre to further develop the skill base of various categories in the Foundation’s programmes and the construction of infrastructural practice facilities in each adopted community.

Walsh, who said he defied doctors orders to rest from a throat ailment, thanked everyone involved in getting the Foundation up and running.

“Of course there will be challenges, but with the directors on board I am sure that we are all going to make it happen,” said the Ambassador-at-Large.

He added: “This is a dream come true. The part that touches me the most, apart from the disability division, is the correctional centre. When I went there the first time it brought tear to my eyes”.

A host of dignitaries spoke at the event, including Olivia Grange, the minister of sports; Dwight Nelson, the minister of security; former president of the West Indies Cricket Board and all time fastbowling great, the Rev Wes Hall, who will be the main speaker at the Kingston College Old Boy Dinner this evening; Billy Heaven, vice-president of the Walsh Foundation and CEO of the CHASE Fund, and Tom Rodwell, from London-based Cricket for Change (C4C) – an organisation which through cricket, helps to restore harmony to warring fractions across the world.

Lindel Wright and Brian Breese of the Jamaica Cricket Association, also contributed to the proceedings.