Rugby festival raises cash for reading

(CRFU): The inaugural Genesis Trust Touch Festival was a huge success at the Camana Bay Sports Complex with twelve teams taking part in a fun day for friends and families alike. This tournament was designed as a way of having fun, playing a sport the participants love, but also to raise funds for a worthy cause at the same time – L.I.F.E. Ltd. (Literacy Is For Everyone) – a local charitable organisation aimed to improve literacy levels in the Cayman Islands. With an emphasis on the lighter side of sporting life, extra points were awarded to players who had not really played the sport before and teams were encouraged to play in fancy dress.

Parents could play with their kids who were often far better than some of their grown-up counterparts, and for those that did not want to play with the adults had their own matches. Cayman Physiotherapy were also on hand to relive any aching muscles for the elder players!

Each team made a great effort with their costumes and the marvellous Carey Olsen team, resplendent in funny wigs and glasses, made quite a display and won the Best Dressed Team award.

As far as the Touch itself went, it was the all-conquering Maples team that narrowly beat the Broadhurst team in a gripping Cup Final. The Security Centre Stingrays won the Plate, and Delta took the Bowl competition. Of course the real winner was L.I.F.E. Ltd. This charitable organisation empowers parents to help their children read, and facilitates paired-reading programs to assist students. In total just over US$1,500 was raised for LIFE and Genesis Trust generously increased this donation to US$5,000, which will cover the cost of running the Leveled Literacy Intervention programme (a supplementary literacy intervention programme giving intensive instruction for students who are struggling to achieve their grade reading level) at one local school.

The other beneficiary was the Cayman Pirates Touch Team, who helped run the tournament and were raising funds for their trip to the US Touch National Championships.

A spokesperson for Genesis Trust said: "The Genesis Trust Touch Festival was a huge success as we were able to raise money for a great charity, promote the game of Touch and above all have a fun day out that was enjoyed by the whole family. Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and players that contributed to making it such a great event."