A $50,000 donation from philanthropist David Barber has saved International Race Weekend, the January athletics showpiece that was cancelled due to lack of sponsorship late last week.

Mr. Barber, who recently donated $2 million to buy an air ambulance, offered the money to make up the shortfall between the $130,000 operating costs of the event and the $80,000 lifeline offered by Government on Friday.

The Welsh-born philanthropist and self-made millionaire, who arrived in Bermuda in 1930 and has been giving generously to charities in recent years, handed over a cheque to the BTFA yesterday who hastily arranged a meeting to confirm the event would be back on.

The BTFA released a Press statement last Thursday announcing the cancellation of the 29-year-old sporting showpiece due to a lack of sponsorship.

The association has received heavy criticism in recent days from both Government Ministers and athletes from both Bermuda and overseas, who have not yet received prize money from this year?s event.