MONTEGO BAY, St James — The children’s ward at the ailing Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) received a shot in the arm from a $100,000-donation from Unique Events. Unique Events represents the management class of the University of the West Indies, Open Campus in Montego Bay. The cheque to the CRH was presented last week.

The money will go towards equipping the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the CRH with at least one piece of equipment that is crucial to its operation.

“The money raised was intended is being donated to the Cornwall Regional children’s ward. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on this ward is in need of some vital equipment, namely a Neopuff which is necessary to resuscitate the babies at birth. Most of the items needed are very expensive; therefore, with our donation we can assist to purchase at least one or two of these needed equipment,” Ebany Montique-Gayle, team leader of Unique Events, told the Observer West.

She was speaking following the presentation of the cheque to Dr Shelly Drummond, neonatologist at the Type A hospital, during a brief handing-over ceremony held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Western Jamaica Conference Centre on Friday.

The money was raised from the staging of Keep Obtaining Ongoing Lessons Knowing Inspite of Deterrence Succeed (KOOL KIDS), a talent and awareness competition run among students, ranging from the ages of 9 to 11 years, from over seven different primary and preparatory schools in St James.

During the contest, the young students, drawn from Corinaldi Avenue Primary, Chetwood Memorial, DMP Academy, Catherine Hall Primary, Green Pond Primary, Montego Bay Christian Academy, Montego Bay Prep and Barracks Road Primary, showcased their diverse talent and knowledge of current affairs on Saturday, February 10th, 2018 at the St John Methodist Church Hall.

The eventual winners of the KOOL KIDS Competition were also presented with their prizes at Friday’s handing-over ceremony.

Herisia Murray and Jeheil Lawson were judged first place winners, with Alair Walker finishing second, C’Andra Montaque placed third, with CIara Parkins in fourth place.

Montique-Gayle and other Unique Events team members on hand, Sharbona Ricketts, Mikala Mills, Nicole Nelson and Nickeishia Shakes, expressed gratitude to sponsors for coming on board to assist in contributing to the $100, 000.00 raised, as well as funding the awards for all contestants.

The sponsors included Indies Pharma, Carimed Distributors, Massy Distributors, Sangster’s Bookstore, Jamaica Tours Ltd, Chukka Foundation, Elite Media, Impression Signs & Services, Bridal Dreams JA, Sagicor Life and St John’s Methodist Church.

Members of Unique Events were lauded by mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis and Dr Drummond for their initiative which resulted in assisting the CRH.