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McDonald wins but charities benefit as GASP stages ‘Scrabblers Give Back,’ tournament
National Scrabble Champion, Abigail McDonald led from the front when she scored an impeccable 6 points with a positive spread of 405 to emerge at the top of the heap when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) staged ‘Scrabblers Give Back,’ a tournament organized to raise and donate said funds to two local charitable organizations.
McDonald was in full flow, defeating newly elected President, Leon Belony (47) Grace Hercules (67) and James Krakowsky (43) during the pre-lunch period before coming back in the post lunch period to clean up her predecessor, Fred Collins (96), Yvonne Murray (33) and Wayne Cave (120).
GASP members and executives join Mr. Belony (2nd right) after the handing over ceremony. Also in photo are Denise Lyttle and Sheila Profitt (2nd & 3rd right). Ms McDonald is 5th right.
Belony rebounded from the loss to McDonald to register victories against Michael Benjamin (164), Orlando Michael (88), Cave (96), Collins (205) and Grace Hercules (10)
Murray also started her day on a positive note, defeating Benjamin by 74 points. She then surrendered the second game to Cave (41) before ending the pre-lunch sessions with a 49 spread victory over Hercules. Colin Chichester was her first post-lunch victim (20) before the loss to McDonald. She then closed off the day with a crunching defeat of Collins (162). She also clinched the prize for the best player outside of the top ten rankings.
Despite the competitiveness of the tournament, the players were actually focused on the development of residents of two orphanages, the Plaisance based St John’s Bosco Boy’s Orphanage and the St Ann’s Girl’s Home, Thomas Street, Georgetown.
Meanwhile, the players were able to accrue more than $60,000 along with toiletries and other items which were handed over at a simple ceremony at the tournament venue after the activities had concluded. “We make a living from what we get but we make a life from what we give,” quoted Secretary/Treasurer, Prudence Edwards as she handed over the money accrued from the venture to Sister Denise Lyttle and Sheila Profitt, the representatives of the two beneficiaries, St John’s Bosco Boy’s Orphanage and the St Ann’s Girl’s Home, respectively. “This is a donation from our hearts,” concluded Ms Edwards even as she indicated that the GASP executives wished to make the activity a yearly occurrence.
“Christmas is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ and is a season for giving,” exhorted Ms McDonald. “We at the GASP, though of varied beliefs and spiritual adaptations have a common urge to give. We will be incorporating the efforts of the business community in future ventures so that the beneficiaries may receive something tangible,” she concluded.
“Despite the short notice and inadequate time allotted to us to make this venture a success we were able to pull it off,” disclosed Mr. Belony. He feels that this is largely due to the hard work and dedication of the members of GASP and congratulated them accordingly.
The players will meet soon for the final tournament of the year and will also host their yearly interaction activity on a date also to be decided upon.
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