Marathon fundraising effort boosts Have a Heart
(L-R) Marathoner Derek Haines, Katherine Tathum and Chris Bailey of Rotary; Jennifer McCarthy of Have a Heart; and Ironman participants Shane Delaney and Vico Testori
(CNS Local Life): More than US$150,000 was donated to Have a Heart Cayman Islands through the fundraising efforts of marathoner Derek Haines and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman. A cheque was presented to Jennifer McCarthy of Have a Heart at a Rotary lunch on 18 May 2017. The funds were raised from the Mountains and Marathons challenge last year in support of the charity. Under the patronage of Governor Helen Kilpatrick and together with the support of the Rotary Club, Haines, 68, ran the 50K “Off the Beaten Track” race; climbed three Bolivian mountains, together with Vico Testori and Barry Yetton; and ran two marathons.
Also supporting the endeavour were Shane Delaney and fellow Rotarian Chris Bailey, who completed separate Ironman challenges.
Have a Heart facilitates life-saving cardiac procedures for children in partnership with Health City Cayman Islands. The charity is committed to saving children’s lives throughout the Caribbean and around the world, regardless of social or socioeconomic status, race, sex or religion. Thus far, more than 200 children from around the world have been served by Have a Heart in Grand Cayman.
All travel costs and registration fees for the challenge were self-funded by the participants and every dollar of the total US$155,384.72 raised was donated to Have a Heart.
“This was an exciting challenge that certainly pushed me to the limits but result made it most worthwhile,” Haines said. “This is another huge fundraiser for a fairly small population but the generosity of the Cayman community has shone through year after year and I am very grateful for the continued support both from the public arena and the membership of our Rotary Club”.
McCarthy thanked the membership and gave an update on progress of the charity. “Have a Heart and I are very grateful for this wonderful donation and the efforts of Derek and his team,” she said. “We intend to enhance our programme with goals of constructing a purpose-built paediatric facility and of serving one child a day.”
Category: Donations, Service Organisations
