media_artricles :: 2016

Fay-Ann supports TTOC medal drive

THE “VIQUEEN of Soca” Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez, will participate in Sunday’s Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon, which will be staged from St Mary’s Junction in Freeport to the White Hall, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

During a media conference at the TT Olympic Committee (TTO C) headquarters at Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, the former Road March and Soca Monarch queen stated that she will feature in a relay, which will raise awareness to the TTO C president Brian Lewis’ dream for 10 or more Olympic gold medals by the year 2024.

Lyons-Alvarez noted, “the 10 Golds by 2024 we found was a good initiative, that’s one of the inspirations for me to run.” She will be in a relay team alongside former soca artiste and managing director of WI Sports Peter C Lewis, WI Sports manager Hans Romany, radio announcer/ soca artiste Devon Matthews and physical trainer Brent Elder.

Admitting that she has been training for three weeks in preparation for Sunday’s race, Lyons- Alvarez said, “we did some laps, we did some core exercises, some strengthening exercises.

They actually got a pinch of what an athlete actually do in preparation for any sort of sport. I think they did.” She pointed out, “they have decided that I should finish. So we want to start strong, but (Peter C Lewis and Romany) in the middle and I will hopefully finish the race before the cut-off time (at 11.30 am).” Peter C Lewis, talking about how they agreed to participate in Sunday’s race, revealed, “there must have a purpose in her doing it. You can’t do it just like that. I tried to explain to her ‘well it’s for charity’ and we decided to meet with (Brian) Lewis. And Mr Lewis said ‘we have to do it for the 10 Golds by 2024’.

“Fay Ann agreed after she understood what it was all about,” he continued. “We met with Mr Lewis and he explained the whole purpose of the 10 Golds by 2024.

And she came up with another idea, we will donate each of our portion of our miles towards the 10 Golds by 2024 campaign.” After stating they will pledge the amount they run in finances, Lyons said she’ll pledge $5,000 while Lewis countered with a sum of $6,000.

Brian Lewis, the TTO C president, who will be among the walkers at the Marathon, in his desire to raise awareness for the 10 Golds by 2024 venture, remarked, “I have to thank Fay Ann for agreeing to support this initiative. Her passion for sport goes way back.

“Her fitness lifestyle is, in many ways, a role model for women achieving in terms of their careers and trying to balance all the challenges that women go through.” Diane Henderson, chairperson of the Marathon Committee, was high in praise of Lyons-Alvarez’s decision to feature in the annual Marathon.

“It actually opens up the door for more charitable and more ideas that could be connected to the Marathon,” Henderson said. “The relay members have a choice to run (any of the legs).

They have to run their legs consecutively.

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