Dear Source,
On May 22, 2005, Mothers Against Guns Inc. and Jason Carroll Memorial Fund Inc. held the Second Annual Walk/Run Against Gun Violence in the Virgin Islands. The Walk/ Run this year was blessed by sunny weather and we increased our participation to at least 143 walkers, runners and joggers who finished the Walk/Run and others who came out to take a stand against the violence in the community. We want to thank all of those who helped to make the Walk/Run a reality this year.
A big thank you goes out to Governor Charles Turnbull for proclaiming May 22, 2005 as Mothers Against Guns Day and Criminal Victims Memorial Day and inviting the community to reflect on the causes of violence and to participate in the events planned for the day. We also give our sincere thanks to our sponsor, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and to our donors,including: the Law Offices of Joel Holt, Dr. George Rosenberg, the Law Firm of Dudley Topper and Feuerzeig, the Law Offices of Marjorie Rawls Roberts, People Moving Forward Foundation Inc., and to all of our other donors whose contributions made the event possible. We are grateful for the sponsorship of Bellows International and West Indies Corporation for supplying the runners with water and other refreshments. We also thank the V.I. Police Department, the V.I. Rescue Squad, Colonel Clarence Hansby and the Civil Air Patrol for the great assistance that they gave us on the day of the Run in making sure that everything went smoothly and safely. A special thank you goes to Therese Hodge, the St. Thomas Association of Road Runners and the volunteers that came out in force to help us on the day of the Walk/Run. We could not have held the event without their expert assistance.
This was the second year of the Walk/Run Against Gun Violence in the Virgin Islands. We wish to thank the participants who supported the event and demonstrated that violence is not tolerated in this community, in our schools and in our streets. Extra thanks goes out to those who went the extra mile by traveling from St. John, St. Croix and the continental United States to take a stand against violence. Congratulations go out to the medal winners in the different age categories and to our overall winners: Gloria Salas Lindquist, the top female runner, and Bill Thompson, the top male runner, who was the repeat winner of the event. We also congratulate Addelita Cancryn Junior High School for being the school with the most participants and the Cheetahs Youth Club, the youth group with the most participants, for winning the trophy to be put on display. ACJHS won the trophy for the school with the most participants last year also. We are grateful for the opportunity to help one of our Virgin Islands youths to pursue their destiny by going to college. We want to congratulate Anyssa Richardson, who recently graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School. She is the recipient of the first Jason Carroll Memorial Scholarship, a full tuition one-year scholarship to UVI for writing the best essay, entitled: "How the Virgin Islands Will Stop Excessive Violence in Its Community." She was the unanimous choice of a panel from UVI for her essay. We are very proud of you, Anyssa, and we know that you will fulfill your purpose in life. Illegal guns must be removed from our community. For those parents who have lost their loved ones, God is on the throne and justice shall prevail. In unity and with the grace of God, we can make this community a safe place for all.
Sincerely,
Celia A. Carroll
President Jason Carroll Memorial Fund Inc./ Mothers Against Guns Inc.
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