Boneta Phillips, president of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, receiving the cheque from Brian Lara. (Picture by Ricky Jordan)

IF YOU THINK Brian Lara's first Crop-Over fête on the scenic grounds of Ebworth, St Peter, tonight is only about fun and frolic, think again!

The legendary West Indies batsman is using the party at his new home to launch contributions to charities in Barbados, and made this tangible yesterday when he presented cheques for $10 000 each to the Barbados Council for the Disabled and the National HIV/AIDS Commission.

President of the Council for the Disabled, Boneta Phillips, said it was not the first time donations had come from Lara, who had previously given bats, hats and shirts to help the council raise funds.

The other cheque was presented to HIV/AIDS Commission chairperson and AIDS czar Dr Carol Jacobs, who said she was moved by the gesture.

Lara, the passing of whose mother on January 26, 2002, sparked the launch of the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation in his parents' honour, said the organisation had since used various fund-raising vehicles to "ensure we can help people not just financially but by interacting with kids and anyone who is less fortunate. It's important to have that human element".

He added: "We have an event that's [accepted] in Trinidad at carnival time, and we thought Barbados would be the ideal place to go next and then maybe other islands," he told the SUNDAY SUN.

Saying he anticipated that today's 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. fête would be "wonderful", Lara promised Trini cuisine and premium drinks, as well as top-flight entertainment. (RJ)