Christiana, JAMAICA — Jermaine Blackwood stopped by his alma mater Holmwood Technical High School in Jamaica recently to make a presentation to the school’s cricket programme.

With help from his equipment sponsors, Blackwood was able to secure over half a million dollars in cricket gear to the Manchester-based school.

“This was very important to me, the fact that I’m in a position to help others and more importantly a school that has moulded me into the man I am today,” Blackwood said.

Principal Paul Bailey was very excited to host the West Indies and Jamaica Scorpions batsman and made it clear what this donation meant to the school and the cricket team.

“Holmwood has produced dozens of athletes who have gone on to represent the country and themselves internationally. I hope that Jermaine’s help will trigger more involvement from alumni,” said Bailey.

“As a former student, player, and current coach I can’t describe how much this means to the boys,” explained Coach Orville Pennant. “We are in the middle of the schoolboy competition and it will serve as a huge boost in the boys’ confidence going into the game. It’s great to see one of our own come back to help out, we are very proud of him. His management team worked very hard to put this together and I am very grateful for their efforts.”

Blackwood, along with his management team also secured some assistance from Grace Foods to help donate over 500 packets of their instant porridge towards a nutritional programme to ensure the students have a sufficient pre-game meal on match days.

Blackwood was in Australia as part of the West Indies team on tour which ended in January and is now part of the Jamaica Scorpions who were in Antigua for their game against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Blackwood made his Test cricket debut for the West Indies against New Zealand in June 2014 and his One Day International (ODI) debut in November 2015. The right-hand batsman has played in 15 Tests; two ODIs and 19 Twenty20s.