Cable & Wireless Foundation yesterday presented scholarships valued at $180,000 to four tertiary-level students living with sickle-cell disease.

Errol Miller, vice-president for corporate communications at Cable & Wireless, said the scholarships are to assist students, who in addition to normal costs associated with attending school, face the added burden of the medical expenses associated with their condition.

Eighteen-year-old Jodinel Blackwin, student at Portmore Community College, was awarded $27,000; 19-year-old Rhonda Graham of Excelsior Community College received $49,325; Julie Hamilton, an 18-year-old student at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) got $80,000; and André Turner, 29, also of the NCU, received a book grant valued at $24,000.

"I am very grateful for this scholarship I have received from Cable & Wireless. They see my potential and I am very grateful for that," said Jodinel, who is pursuing a pre-university programme.

She was speaking with The Gleaner following the presentation ceremony, held at Cable & Wireless' head offices, St. Andrew.

Morette Wright, co-founder and director of the Sickle Cell Support Club, lauded Cable & Wireless for its assistance, noting that several letters were sent out to other companies but only the telecommunications company responded.

Dispel the myths

Ms. Wright noted that the scholarships received will make a difference in the lives of the young people and charged them to dispel the myths associated with persons living with sickle cell.

"Cable & Wireless is not just teaching you to fish, they have given you fishing gear (so) dare to make a difference," she told the recipients.

Ms. Wright pointed to several persons living with sickle-cell disease who have made significant strides in their lives and told the recipients that it was a testimony that people living with the disease can be high achievers and live productive lives.