THE HAGUE--Minister Doran-York shows recognition and appreciation to Dutch Kingdom Team baseball player, local St. Maarten born Dudley Leonora.
Leonora, received Minister Doran-York, Cabinet Director Irene Simmons and Policy worker Kelly Busby, with great pride, in the presence of the bonds coach Steve Jansen, Curaçao born Diegomar Markwell and other team members, at their training Ballpark in Hoofddorp.
After meeting and speaking with Dudley last week at the Red Cross Telethon, for St. Maarten in Hilversum, Minister Doran-York was extremely impressed with his achievements in sports and made good of her promise to present Dudley with a St. Maarten flag and other souvenirs of the Island as an encouragement.
Dudley stated that the Dutch Kingdom Team, felt more than compelled to show their support for this cause, but also to actually help by donating for the recovery of St. Maarten. The team members stated that they felt deeply saddened and affected seeing a part of their Kingdom family in such devastation.
Dudley Leonora, a young man of 25 years, who grew up between St. Maarten where he was born and Curaçao is currently playing in the Netherlands for the past three years in both the Dutch national team as well as his home team, the Hoofddorp Pioneers. The Hoofddorp Pioneers will have a baseball clinic this coming weekend in order to raise money to assist the recovery efforts on St. Maarten.
In his spare time Dudley assists with training youngsters interested in the sport of baseball. This he says, really applies to kids that are not doing very well in school, are lacking motivation and have a bigger chance of ending up taking the wrong path in life.
His volunteer work pays off and he gains satisfaction knowing that by keeping the youth active, in the area of sports, helps to keep them off the streets and out of trouble.
Dudley stated that there is one very important goal of his, which is to be able to one day come back home and organize baseball clinics for the youth on St. Maarten.
He normally plays for his home team in the position of shortstop. When he plays for the national team, he does not have a specific position, but plays any position appointed to him.
Dudley who was all smiles, upon receiving the flag, and souvenirs of St. Maarten, graciously thanked Minister Doran-York for her kind gesture and encouraged her to continue reaching out to her people in The Netherlands, as they needed and appreciated this greatly.
The star player said there are a lot of persons dear to him, that have been affected by the hurricanes and that his heart is with his beloved island and his people as they go through this rough ordeal.
He sends a message of encouragement to his fellow St. Maarteners, telling them to stay strong for one another. He said that St. Maarteners will build St. Maarten back up together, because they are strong people.
