DIGICEL SUPPORTS THE ANNUAL BUDDY WALK

Digicel Donates $500 to assist in raising awareness for Down Syndrome

HAMILTON, BERMUDA – October 9th, 2009: Digicel Bermuda is supporting the 2^nd Annual Buddy Walk held by the Bermuda Down Syndrome Organization and Support Group by donating $500 and by hosting a denim day where Digicel staff raised an additional $300 for the support group. CEO, Wayne Caines, presented the cheque to Selina Edwards who is the founder of the local organization and also a Digicel employee.  

This contribution will help to raise awareness for Down Syndrome and will be used by members to help with travel expenses to attend the upcoming National Down Syndrome Congress 37^th Annual Convention which will be held July 2010 in Orlando.

The annual Buddy Walk is one of the main fundraisers for the Down Syndrome Organization and takes place on Sunday, October 18^th, 2009 at 9am. The walk starts from Somerset Long Bay parking lot and ends in Dockyard.

This is the second year, as part of the celebration of Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, and in conjunction with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), that the Annual Buddy Walk will be held to raise public awareness and enhance acceptance of individuals with Down syndrome.

The Bermuda Down Syndrome Organization is dedicated to promoting the rights, dignity, and potential of all individuals with Down syndrome through advocacy, education, public awareness and support. 

Last year, approximately 60 people took part in the walk. “I hope to see a larger turn out this year, we are aiming for 100 – 130 people,” explained Selina Edwards, Founder of Down Syndrome Organization of Bermuda.

Wayne Caines, CEO of Digicel Bermuda comments, “Our staff is very involved in the community and we are proud to support Selina and the Bermuda Down Syndrome Organization.”

Says Mrs. Edwards, “On behalf of the Bermuda Down Syndrome Organization and Support Group I would like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you for the donation given to us by Digicel to help with our Buddy Walk. As the Founder of the Organization and a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, I want to educate the public about the Down Syndrome community here in Bermuda and create opportunities for inclusion.”

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

After eight years of operation, Digicel has 8.6 million customers across its Caribbean and Central American markets and is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American and Pacific markets.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 32 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

In total, across its 32 markets, Digicel has over ten million subscribers.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.