Parents joined Bermuda’s Junior Leaders for a weekend fundraising car wash on Saturday.
A spokesman for the Royal Bermuda Regiment said participants washed around 20 vehicles “as part of a fundraising drive for the school age branch of the island’s military”.
“A total of 24 Junior Leaders washed cars, bikes and trucks on Saturday to mark the halfway mark of their annual two week camp, helped by parents and supporters.”
Junior Leaders Corporal Shi-shun Burgess, 15, said: “The money is all going to the Junior Leaders programme to help us grow and make camp better.” The CedarBridge Academy pupil, from Somerset, added: “This is my fourth year in the Junior Leaders. I like the excitement and the activity. I want to join the Regiment when I’ve finished with the Junior Leaders.”
Private Somers Mello, 13, from Smith’s, said: “I’ve been doing a lot of things. We did the adult obstacle course, although we skipped some of it for safety reasons.”
The Saltus Grammar pupil added: “We’ve done a truck pull, although I was injured at the time and couldn’t do it. I’ve been in the Junior Leaders for five months and it’s a lot of fun.”
Lawyer Craig Attridge, whose son William is a member of the Junior Leaders, said: “Parents just volunteer and get stuck in.
“There are lots of multi-generational Regiment families here – lots of kids who have family in the Regiment or who have been.”
Nikosi Edwards, 14, due to start CedarBridge Academy in September and from Sandys, added: “I’m looking forward to next week. It’s been hard work because we’ve had to get up at 5.45am for physical training before breakfast, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
Corporal Bryana Bell, 15, said it was her third year in the Junior Leaders.
The Saltus Grammar pupil from Hamilton Parish said: “I like the teamwork, for sure and I like working with the weapons. I also like the food here. I’d like to join the Regiment, but it’s not 100 per cent sure yet.”
Victor Bell, her father, who owns lifting and excavation firm Bell Skyline, brought his own truck along to be washed by the junior soldiers.
“Bryana loves it. You find some girls just don’t like playing with Barbie dolls and she was like that. I call her my Rambo girl. She loves the army, working with people, the sport and and socialising with everyone,” said Mr Bell.
Royal Bermuda Regiment Lieutenant Gordon Emmerson, seconded to assist Junior Leaders Commandant Major Henry Campbell and his team with the two week camp, added: “They’ve all been good and really enjoyed it.”
The Junior Leaders meet every Friday night, starting the second week of September, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
For more information on the Junior Leaders, which is free and open to youngsters aged 1217, phone 238 8206 or follow the link at www.bermudaregiment.bm.
