Rotary Central Continues Support for Able to Play

A steady partnership between Rotary Central and Build Cayman is proving its success with the Cayman Islands Lighthouse school getting closer to benefiting from a significant community project. Last week Club President Wil Pineau and Community Service Director Mr. Naude Dreyer presented a check for CI$25,000 to purchase special needs equipment, giving the project a huge boost forward. The Lighthouse school provides children with special needs a safe and caring environment to learn and achieve their full potential. Mr. Russel Linford, the General Manager of Build Cayman Limited wanted to give these children a proper playground, designed specifically to their unique needs, and has been working diligently to raise the funds to make it happen. Mr. Linford has secured a large portion of the funding from the very well known and hugely popular Cardboard Boat Race, which has become an annual event on the Pirates Week Festival Calendar in the Cayman Islands. The project got a big boost when it came to the attention of Rotary Central in 2009, as Rotary Central pledged its support as part of an ongoing involvement in community projects, which focuses on people with special needs during the course of 2009 and has continued into 2010. "This was certainly one of the most significant projects for our club last year and we remain committed to seeing it through to its completion," said Rotary Central's Immediate Past President Paul Byles. Current Club President Mr Wil Pineau explained that the project would not have been possible without the hard work of Mr. Russel Linford, of Build Cayman. "Mr. Linford saw the need and immediately stepped up and dedicated a lot of his time towards this project. We are proud to be working with him on such a much needed community project", said Mr. Pineau. Once the initial design and planning approval had been finalized, work on the first phase of the project commenced. Rotary members have assisted Russell and his team with the first phase of the building project by providing manpower and heavy equipment required for the initial site preparation and the erection of the concrete posts that will hold the canopy roof. The groundwork was completed by late January 2010 and Rotary has assisted once again with the erection of the actual canopy that consists of metal frames and canvass covers. The first phase of the project was completed last month with the installation of a large area covered with an artificial turf. The second phase of the project will continue later in 2010 and will involve special needs equipment designed for children in their wheelchairs on the artificial turf.