Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

A day before their departure, St. Jago High School's Penn Relays team received a shot in the arm with a $100,000 donation yesterday.

Brenda Roach and Karlene Warren, who described themselves as "Loving Mothers", made the presentation of cash during the school's devotion in the morning.

"We knew it's a problem every year to get funding to send the team to be comfortable and we as mothers of the team saw the needs of the athletes," Roach said. "We decided we have to do something to help and we started a 'jerk', which was done every Friday at the school since February and with the help of the head of the PE department Ms. Hawthorne, who advertised it, we raised the money."

Roach also says they achieved their target.

"We set a target of $100,000 and we made it, so we are satisfied," she added.

St. Jago's Penn Relays expenses look certain to run close to $1 million and coach of the girls' team, Raymond 'KC' Graham, said thanks to the 'Loving Mothers': "Its a timely gesture," he said.

About 20 athletes and officials are set to leave the island this morning for the meet in Philadelphia, led by national 100m junior record holder and World Junior bronze medallist, Yohan Blake, Rikor Hylton and Nickel Ashmead.

St. Jago's boys are strong favourites to win the sprint and mile relays at Penn Relays.