Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
British boxer Audley Harrison (left) hands over a cheque to the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre on Friday, December 23.) To his left are local Jamaica Hospital League of Friends (JHLOF) representative Curtis Sutherland; Ministry of Health Liguanea region Chief Executive Officer Hazel Waite and Sir Golding Rehabilitation Centre administrator-surgeon Judeth Whitter. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BRITISH-JAMAICAN heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison has called for the diaspora to give more generously to their homeland.
The Olympic gold medallist was speaking to reporters on Friday at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre in Mona, St. Andrew where he handed over a $450,000 cheque to the institution. He made the donation via the United Kingdom-based charity Jamaica Hospital League of Friends (JHLOF) of which he is a patron.
"There are a lot of influential Jamaicans around the world and everyone can make a difference," said Mr. Harrison. Of his own donation he said it was "important to put my hand in my pocket," reasoning that "sometimes you've got to back up the lip service."
The Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre which specialises in spinal injuries is currently raising funds for an operating theatre and a sterilisation unit, its administrator-surgeon Judeth Whitter told The Gleaner.
"Currently we have to work with KPH (Kingston Public Hospital) for sterilisation and Spanish Town Hospital for surgery... With the construction of these units we can therefore offer more complete care," added director of nursing services Gladstone Simpson.
SHIPMENTS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES
The centre received an earlier donation of gym equipment from JHLOF in November. Founded in 1990, JHLOF has made regular annual container shipments of medical supplies including 40 hydraulic beds, orthopaedic and surgical equipment and bed linen. Another shipment is due in the first two months of 2006.
Asked about future plans following his first defeat from 20 professional fights earlier this month, the 34-year-old Harrison replied, "At the moment I'm just on a break with my wife and after Christmas I will go and look at my decisions."
He took gold in the super heavyweight division at the Sydney 2000 Olympic before turning professional as a heavyweight, going on to win his first 19 fights. However, he lost his unbeaten record and the vacant Commonwealth title against fellow Briton Danny Williams earlier this month on a points decision.
A future exhibition fight to be held in Jamaica might also be on the cards he added. "I'd love to fight in Jamaica and that would be giving back at some point in my career. It's a plan to happen."
