ATL Auto throws Campbell a lifeline

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Kevaughn Campbell has been thrown a lifeline by ATL Automotive. The outstanding junior national representative's rise in the sport of swimming was in danger of being stalled, due to his parents' inability to come up with the requisite funds to send him off to this month's CARIFTA Games Swimming Championships in Barbados.

His mother, Keishana Campbell, sought the aid of corporate Jamaica, as she has done in the past, to try and raise the $108,866.43 required to cover the 13-year-old's voyage.

Until The Gleaner had published a story yesterday, only Keith Duncan of Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) had answered her call with a donation of $25,000.

However, ATL Automotive has now stepped up to the plate as good corporate citizens and have committed to provide the additional $83,866.43 needed to allow the Wolmer's Boys' student to go off and defend his three CARIFTA titles.

personal belief

"Just going through The Gleaner today (yesterday) I saw the article, read it through and it is really a personal belief that children should be exposed to as many activities and subject matters as possible at a very young age," expressed Judith Denton, ATL Automotive's marketing and public relations manager.

"If they find something that they are really good at, something that they love and are excelling at, I don't want to see them held back," added Denton.

"It is a personal belief that is happily endorsed throughout the group, therefore, when I went to find out if it was OK to do this (sponsor Campbell), the approval was immediate. She (Keishana Campbell) said JMMB contributed $25,000, so we are willing to contribute the difference," Denton further pointed out, with regard to getting approval from Kevaughn's mom.

Campbell was naturally elated that her son is being given an opportunity to continue his development in the sport.

"I am happy because, to be frank, even though the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica considers CARIFTA the lowest level, it is a start and he has represented at all levels, except Olympics," Campbell shared.

"He wants to make the Olympic team in 2012, and he is not far off in making the 100m breaststroke Olympics time, so this is the foundation, and I am very happy he will be getting to go, thanks to ATL Automotive and JMMB," she added.

Young Campbell captured gold in the 50m, 100m and the 200m breaststroke at last year's CARIFTA Games, which was staged here in Jamaica, as well as helping the medley relay teams to two bronze medals.

He repeated his feat at the Caribbean International Swimming Championships in Havana, Cuba, by taking gold in his three pet events - the 50, 100 and 200 metres breaststroke.

Two of his victories came in new meet-record times, while all three were national age-group records.