Organisers of the Jason & Gary Memorial Six-A-Side Cricket Tournament hope to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event to further aid in the education and development of the island’s young people.

The Jason and Gary Scholarship Fund committee raised nearly $10,000 towards covering schooling costs for Bermuda College students Kevin Davis-Edwards, Micah Simmons, Jahni Darrell and Damariano Corriea.

A total of $6,700 was raised at last April’s cricket event with the inaugural Jason & Gary Memorial Golf Tournament at Turtle Hills Golf Course in November bringing in an additional $3,000, which was handed to Simmons and Darrell to cover costs for their schoolbooks.

Corriea and Davis-Edwards both received full scholarships to attend college courtesy of the Department of Workforce Development, with that government department partnering with the Jason and Gary Scholarship Fund committee, which is headed up new Somerset assistant coach Janeiro Tucker.

“The expectation for us is to basically get as many people out as possible to watch some exciting cricket and also donate towards the scholarship fund in memory of Jason and Gary,” Tucker told The Royal Gazette.

“At the end of the day we are trying to put as much youth through school as we possibly can. We put four through school last September with the support of the Department of Workforce Development, so we are just trying to continue to help out the young men in this country who need help.

“We are just trying to help out the tradesmen of the country that we are lacking and are losing. The more we raise, the the more youth we can give the scholarship funds to.

“It’s all about how much money we raise to help out and the beneficiaries last year included one gentlemen who had lost his father and his mother needed help to get her son into Bermuda College but really couldn’t afford it. Between us and the Department of Workforce Development, we helped them out and they thanked us for everything and were really grateful for that scholarship.”

Teresa Simons, Monique Bailey, Shanalette Burchall, Shawnette Simons, Akelya Furbert, Elizabeth Leverock and Leroyce Mills are the remaining committee members.

The cricket and golf fundraisers are held in honour of late Southampton Rangers cricketer Gary Crofton and footballer Jason Raynor. Crofton, who had battled cancer, passed away in 2020, while Raynor died last year.

The Jason & Gary Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament will be held at Southampton Oval on Saturday and Sunday and will involve seven teams, including champions White Lightning, who will be keen to defend their title.

“We were pushing for a little bit more but with so much going on, I guess guys couldn’t fill a team,” Tucker said. “But we got one more team than last year so that’s a positive.”

All matches will be officiated by Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association members Roger Dill, Alex Knight and Steven Caines.

Music and commentary will be provided along with a fun castle and various other fun-filled activities for the entire family. There will also be raffle tickets and food on sale.

Admission is $10 per day or $15 for both days with all proceeds going towards the Jason & Gary Scholarship Fund.

Play begins at 9am both days.