It has been nearly three weeks since our intrepid countrymen of Team Wadadli set out to cross the Atlantic powered by oars. People were calling them crazy considering that the Atlantic Ocean is not some little puddle of water and I have to admit that I too was a bit apprehensive since I am a firm believer in maintaining constant contact with terra firma. I believed that there must have been some better way to raise the awareness of the work of the St. John hospice but judging from the response now I have to admit that I was wrong. All previous attempts to garner the level of local financial support necessary to meet the needs of the organisation have not been as successful as the organisers had hoped; each year the administrators are left grasping at straws to plug a financial shortfall of over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Since the commencement of this row on the 21st of December 2015, donations haven thankfully increased. The message has reached further afield than in the past and it is more compelling when a human face is associated with a cause. The Diaspora has now been made fully aware of the goings on in the Atlantic, and undoubtedly it is the reason for the increased support. While this is gratifying for the founder and countless volunteers for whom this is a labor of love, it is hoped that the newly found interest does not wane since the institution is in need of long term partners who are committed to much more than one-off contributions.
Some local businesses have have responded to the call and are partnering with the rowers in support of their initiative and one such is the Garden Grill at the Tides. Located at Dutchman’s Bay, this restaurant which is highly rated by the travel website Trip Advisor, donates $10 from every Wahoo burger purchased to the hospice. So, remember when eating at the Garden Grill to order the Team Wadadli Wahoo Burger and enjoy a thick wahoo steak with avocado, arugula, lemon aioli, house made tomato jam and pesto, served with house fries. Club Sushi in Falmouth Harbour offers a special called the ‘Rowers roll’ and they also will donate $10 of every order towards the hospice. It is hoped that other members of the business community will pitch in similar initiatives, to get the New Year rolling off with good momentum. So if you’re in for a quick snack, some fine sushi or just good tasting food wrapped up in excellent service with an eating experience that is out of this world, I’d suggest that you pop on over to The Garden Grill at Dutchman’s Bay for the Team Wadadli Wahoo burger or to Club Sushi at Falmouth Harbour for the Rower’s Roll.