First-Hand Aid, GVSU Make History in Cuba

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By Bill Holm

What a fantastic experience! First-Hand Aid teamed up with the Grand Valley State University baseball team to for an historic trip to Cuba Jan. 3-9, and it was a great success all around. First-Hand Aid travelers delivered badly needed medicine and medical supplies directly into the hands of Cuban doctors, and the GVSU Lakers played three exciting, competitive exhibition games against a team of Cuban professional all-stars.

This was only the second time since the Cuban revolution that a U.S. university has played a Cuban team on Cuban soil. And the Lakers performed well, both on and off the field.

“I’m very proud,” GVSU President Thomas Haas told me in the Lakers’ dugout during the first game. “It’s wonderful to see how a game can bring two cultures together and bring this type of excitement.”

There’s lots to show and tell about this important trip, so we’ll be blogging regularly over the coming weeks–and we’ll include lots of photos, too. Be sure to check in. And be sure to include First-Hand Aid in your 2012 donation plan so we can continue to grow and make an important difference in the lives of the wonderful Cuban people.

GO Elefantes!

By Bill Holm

Driving through Cienfuegos on Feb. 28, headed to our seaside casas at Punta Gorda…
With dusk settling, it was obvious by the bright lights of Cinco de Septiembre Stadium that we had stumbled upon something special—the 25^th Postemporada Cuban, the postseason of Cuban baseball.

Our vanload of First Hand Aid volunteers held several baseball fans, especially Joel, who has visited most U.S. big league parks. We got all excited and wondered if we could somehow get in there. We quickly found a gate, where an attendant admitted people as others left. After a brief wait, he waved us inside.

And it’s free to everyone.