NEW YORK, N.Y (CaribPR Newswire) – Devon Harris, who was part of the group of first time Jamaica bobsledders that inspired the hit Disney movie, “Cool Runnings,” will help officials of Team Jamaica Bickle launch their kick-off reception next Thursday in New York City.
Lt. Harris was part of the team that included captain Dudley Stokes, Private Micheal White and Chris Stokes, the brother of Dudley. He last competed in the Nagano Games of 1998. The former bobsledder is now a celebrated motivational speaker and recently authored and released an inspirational children’s book titled, “Yes, I Can.”
Devon Harris
Jamaican Olympian Bobsledder
The book chronicles the experiences of the original bobsledders, who, with a strong belief in themselves and each other as well as a ‘can do’ attitude, became the first to represent their island nation in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada.
This unlikely feat shocked the world and inspired the 1993 Walt Disney Productions blockbuster movie entitled “Cool Runnings.”
Harris also serves as an athlete ambassador for Right to Play, an athlete-driven, humanitarian non-profit organization using sport and play to enhance child development and build community capacity in refugee camps around the world.
Organizers of Team Jamaica Bickle provide food (bickle), transportation and accommodation for Caribbean athletes participating at the annual Penn Relays each year. They are gearing up for the 11th consecutive year and on Thursday April 20, the New York arm of the group will host its annual cocktail kick-off reception at the Consulate of Jamaica from 6 p.m.
Also set to be celebrated at the event is Kenia Sinclair, the 26-year-old silver medalist at both the just-concluded Commonwealth Games and the 11th IAAF World Indoor. In March 2006, Sinclair took the silver in the 800-metres in a new national record, 1 minute 58.90 seconds, trailing Mozambique Maria Mutola, who notched up a record seventh World Indoor title. Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi took the bronze in 2:00.34.
A special award will be presented to Raymond Gouldbourne, executive vice president for Broadcast Sales, BET. Goulbourne has been with BET since January 1992. Prior to his promotion to EVP, he served as senior vice president and vice president of Eastern Region Sales.
Goulbourne is also the first vice chairman of the Upliftment Foundation, a charity that helps underprivileged communities in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica.
The New York launch comes on the heels of the Philadelphia kick-off, held on April 11th at the International House of Philadelphia. TJB’s Phili organizers honored Dr. Walter Lomax, founder and chairman of The Lomax Companies as well as the Lomax Heath Systems, with their International Community Service Award.
TJB was formed in 1995 after the mainly Jamaican group of organizers noticed that athletes from their island were missing the meals they know at home and it was affecting their performance. Over the years, the team has seen the rise of top international athletes like Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell, all of whom were ‘fed’ by TJB.
Major sponsors for this year’s Team Jamaica Bickle include: Caribbean Foods Delight, Jerk Qzine, Western Union, VMBS, Grace Foods, UJAA, Trans Continental, O.J. Plumbing, Air Jamaica & The Door Restaurant. For more information or to become a sponsor, call 718-523-2861.
The 112th Penn Relay Carnival will take place April 27- 29, 2006 at Ben Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Tickets can be obtained by calling 1-888-PENN-TIX.
