Antiguan Wins Tickets to Space with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic
by Karen Rollins Nov 26, 2021
A health coach from Antigua and Barbuda has won two tickets to space on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.
Keisha Schahaff, 44, says she plans to make the trip with her 17-year-old daughter who is an astrophysics student and dreams of working for NASA one day.
Keisha was told she had won the out-of-this-world prize, which is worth $1 million (US), in a surprise visit to her home by Sir Richard.
She said: “When I saw Richard Branson walking in, I just started screaming! I couldn’t believe it.
“I’ve always had a lifelong love of flying and a fascination with space, and this is truly a dream come true for me. It means the world to me. I hope to share this experience with my daughter, so together we can inspire the next generation to follow their dreams.”
Keisha won the tickets after entering a fundraising sweepstake on the Omaze platform. Virgin Galactic said the charitable initiative attracted over 164,300 participants in eight weeks and raised $1.7 million (US).
The money will be donated to the non-government group ‘Space for Humanity’, which works for wider access to space.
Sir Richard said: “Being able to give people of all ages and backgrounds equal access to space, and in turn, the opportunity to lead and inspire others back on Earth is what Virgin Galactic has been building towards for the past two decades.
“It was remarkable to be there for the beginning of Keisha’s journey to space; she is an extraordinary person who is already inspiring people with the work she does to support women in her home of Antigua and Barbuda.
“This experience will provide another platform for her to inspire many more people into the future.”
In addition to experiencing space travel, Keisha will also receive a guided tour from Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Galactic team of ‘Spaceport America’, the world’s first purpose-built Spaceport in New Mexico.
Sources: Virgin Galactic and Phys.org.
