On Monday 24th July, 2023, ANGLEC held a special Press Conference to recognise its first Brand Ambassador, Mr. Delroy Carty – a dedicated cyclist who placed second in the John T. Memorial Cycling Race on Sunday 16th July, 2023.
Delroy’s story of his designation as ANGLEC’s Brand Ambassador is not just about riding with confidence, vigor and the drive to win. Ironically, some three weeks before the renowned John T. Cycling Race weekend, Delroy, in which practicing, was involved in a freak motor vehicle accident where he sustained several injuries.
ANGLEC’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Jemila Morson-Hodge, spoke highly of the company’s first Brand Ambassador, being grateful for the pride that he has brought to ANGLEC, in particular, and to Anguilla in general, despite his inherent challenges.
Delroy said that since he now wears ANGLEC’s Brand Ambassador label, he feels a heightened sense of responsibility to the company:
“The feeling I have after being designated as ANGLEC’s Brand Ambassador is a greater sense of responsibility, knowing that I have a team of supporters behind me,” he said. “It was not just me alone who was doing the preparations for the John T. Races. It was also my dedicated team, the ANGLEC management, and my fellow staff-members.”
He spoke about the course of his training leading up to the unfortunate accident.
“The first week of training was going real well,” he recalled. “I felt rewarded having to train and rest, and I carefully monitored my nutrition. But then during my second week of training the accident took place. This happened three weeks before the Races. I then felt like all my work was in vain, and I felt like all of my supporter’s work was in vain, as well, due to the injuries that I suffered.”
“But, being laid up at home and learning that my colleagues were still working at raising funds for my participation in the upcoming races,” he said. “I told myself that I might not be able to train physically, but I will condition my mind and train mentally. I therefore did some reading on bike racing with emphasis on riding smart with mental power.”
Delroy said he learnt that his colleagues were doing some fundraisers in an effort to purchase him a new bike, since his original cycle had been badly damaged in the accident. He said news of the fundraisers gave him much courage, and he realized that with such a devoted team behind him anything good was possible. He noted that as time went by, he saw the fundraising flyers for both the car wash and the calypso tent events. “That was very touching and heartwarming,” he said.
The fundraising events were quite successful, and a new bike was acquired. He said since his ANGLEC team was pushing so hard in his absence for him to participate in the Races, then he could not let them down. “I felt that if they were ‘pushing’ then I must do my part of the ‘pushing’ too,” he said.
He said that when he finally got his new bike, he was not able to practice because he still had his arm in a cast. It was just three days before the Races, after the cast was removed from his arm, that he was able to do some mild practice.
“I told myself that it might be ‘mission impossible,” Delroy said. “But then I reflected on the two fundraisers that got me my new bike, and I realized that nothing is impossible.”
In the Elite category on Sunday 16th July, he finished second, next to local first place winner, Hassani Hennis.
Delroy thanked all his ANGLEC colleagues for their support and is also thankful for the love and support shown to him through the huge public turnout at the fundraising events.
Mrs. Morson-Hodge said, ” As an Ambassador, Delroy has not only embodied everything that we have hoped this programme would achieve, but he has set a great standard in terms of what is possible when one is diligent in their work and in their off-duty activities,” Mrs. Morson-Hodge said. “And I think an attitude like Delroy’s towards commitment will help to propel other staff members, and hopefully other companies, in investing in their employees.”
Delroy’s colleague Mr. Evan Webster remarked: “Delroy did great in the Races even though I think he is a little stubborn. I could tell he was hurting very much while he was riding in the race. I therefore offered him some pain killers, but he initially refused to take them. So, I used a strategy by telling him that Zambezi was on his heels. As soon as I told him that, Delroy found legs. Then, when he did decide to take my treatment for the pain, he found even more legs. He is truly self-determined.”
“Watching Delroy race had always been touching for me. Even before he started to ride bike,” another colleague Jeritza Samuel recalled. “He and I used to exercise together. Now and then I used to ride my bike and he would run beside me to keep my company on the road, but when he started to ride and get in the sport of racing, I always made sure I was present at the finish line to see him coming in with grace. Watching him race for the John T. Memorial was rather hard, knowing the trauma of the accident that he experienced, but it was, by far an exceptional performance. I do congratulate him indeed.”
Mrs. Morson-Hodge took the opportunity to thank those entities and persons for making meaningful contributions to the two fundraisers which ANGLEC held on behalf of Delroy’s participation in the John T. Memorial Cycle Races. She said these initiatives were called “The Road to Recovery Fundraising Events”, and she thanked ANGLEC’s Management and Staff; Calypsonians United; Placid Pools; Red Lion Distributors; Superior Industrial Equipment Ltd.; MC Dizzy Brooks; DJ Swat Sound System; Drak New York; Zuri Wilkes Photography; Ron Webster; the Anguilla Cycling Association; FLOW; Brother Lee of Kool FM; DJ Hammer of Klass FM; and DJ Blazer.
Mr. Delroy Carty has been designated as ANGLEC’s first Brand Ambassador for one year.
