Cardigan Connor and Bankie Banx with teachers and students at the DOVE Centre.
ANGUILLA--A brand new mobility transport van with a hydraulic lift capable of lifting and securing two wheelchair occupants was delivered to the Developing our Vision for Education (DOVE) Centre on Wednesday, December 5. Bankie Banx, who raised the funds for the vehicle, was present along with eleven special-needs students, teachers, friends and Rotary Club members.
The DOVE Centre educates special-needs pupils up to the age of 12 years, and works seamlessly with the Blossom Centre, the pre-school centre for special needs, and DOVE 2 which educates students 13 years and up.
The van was purchased with funds raised during the January 7 fundraiser concert titled “Rebuild and Rise Up” that was organised by Ada Lo and resulted from Banx’s desire to hold a fundraiser as soon as possible following the passage of Hurricane Irma. Lo said, “Bankie planned to host a festival right at the Anguilla airport and invite all his celebrity friends and musicians to fly in and play. However, the storm’s devastation overrode that concept and the production shifted to London. It was held at London, England’s historic jazz club Ronnie Scott, and headlined Anguilla’s folk and reggae star Bankie Banx and his group. The venue was a sell-out thanks to the aggressive marketing of Jackie and Simon Drake and Lorraine Tyson.
Banx and his group travelled to London for the event, and were joined by musicians Leroy John, Dennis Warrington, Darrius James, Nick Romney, James Canny and Junior Jazz and included performances by Morcheeba, Acantha Lang, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Susannah Sail. Also shown was a video crafted by Lo and Blain Lifton shortly following the storm which captured the emotional tales of survival by Anguillians.
The Anguilla Rotary Club then stepped in to source and purchase the van, as well as arrange shipping and clearance into Anguilla. Rotarian Jacquie Ruan along with Banx and Cardigan Connor led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
