A Shared Love…
Our Unionville Tennis Club community is rich with generosity of spirit. This spirit is exemplified in daily actions by our members and monitors alike. But Barry Jacobson and Regina Doebel took this generosity to another level.
Last year, Barry and Regina, had an idea to help the citizens of the St. Kitts and Nevis with a “small” project, to provide tennis equipment to the residents of the beautiful dual island nation who could not otherwise afford the equipment.
Barry and Regina, long time members of UTC, travel every winter to St. Kitts and Nevis. They have enjoyed the warm weather and reception they receive. However, it is their love of tennis that resulted in a most fortunate opportunity.
At a chance meeting on a tennis court in St. Kitts and Nevis, Barry and Regina became friends with Sir Kennedy Simmonds, the former Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. Their friendship and shared joy of the game started a discussion on many fronts. And as Barry started to listen to all the Canada 150 celebrations last year it occurred to him to honour both Canada and his adopted winter residence of St. Kitts and Nevis. Barry and Regina approached the UTC community and developed an idea that would have 150 racquets and related equipment collected and delivered to the dual nation!
By September of last year, Barry and Regina achieved their objective and collected 150 racquets and 19 pairs of Nike/Adidas shoes/balls. An outstanding achievement.
Barry presented these racquets at a handover ceremony in January of this past year. Please take a look at Sir Kennedy Simmonds speech.
And UTC’s Barry Jacobson had a few words of his own.
The donation of these racquets has made a tremendous difference to the children of St. Kitts and Nevis. As a few have commented, with a racquet in one-hand and tennis balls in the other, the odds of holding a gun are low. The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been using these racquets to start a program in schools that will allow kids who otherwise could not afford the equipment to develop these skills.
The island pros and the tennis association on the island have been quick to organize new tournaments for the children in light of the new developments. The children’s gratitude has left Barry and Regina in awe of the people of this island. The SKNTA Lawn club has even extended the entire UTC community a heartfelt (complementary) invitation to play at their club!
None of the “thank yous” compare to the Barry’s experience with a very special player from St. Kitts and Nevis. Dionte Foster, a one legged, Special Olympic gold medal tennis and swimmer winner is a stage IV bone cancer survivor. Barry had the privilege and honour of playing with this young man. With tears held back, Barry heard of Dionte’s story of struggle and pain. And of course, Barry is hard at work in meeting with the various government officials and organizations, in St. Kitts and Nevis and here in Toronto to get Dionte a prosthetic leg.
Please click on the link of Dionte playing tennis here. Barry and Regina will be continuing with their supportive efforts this summer. Stay tuned to how you can help.
Barry and Regina, we thank you with all our hearts for exemplifying the true meaning of sportsmanship and generosity of spirit. We are so proud to have you as members of Unionville Tennis Club!