DG’s 5K Challenge to help three Cayman charities

(CNS Local Life): Three Cayman organisations have been named as beneficiaries of the funds raised through the sixth annual Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge, which will take place in September. With a focus on supporting the “most vulnerable and reduce stigma”, the charities are the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre (CICC), Special Needs Foundation Cayman (SNFC) and the Alex Panton Foundation.

Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said supporting this year’s charitable organisations will make a real impact on many of the most vulnerable people in the Cayman Islands. “2019’s charities do sterling work tackling the stigma of mental illness, supporting the challenges of living with special needs and assisting those in crisis,” Manderson said in a press release. “Looking after all aspects of our health – mental and physical – is really important to me. So I encourage you all to support the 2019 DG’s 5K, lace up your trainers and get moving!”

This year, the event has a fundraising target of $70,000. Efforts are already underway to reach this goal, with help from platinum sponsor Appleby, which has pledged a $15,000 donation.

The DG’s 5K Challenge brings together civil servants, private sector employees and members of the public in a fitness and fundraising challenge. It is part of Manderson’s vision to have a healthier, more active and more socially engaged civil service, while benefitting charitable organisations and initiatives in the Cayman Islands, the release stated. 

Last year, the event raised $89,000 which was split amongst five charitable causes. In 2017, $85,000 was raised to build a ropes challenge course for the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. The year before, the event netted $60,000 to help Cayman Heart Fund buy an ambulance, which was gifted to the Health Services Authority. In 2015, Special Olympics Cayman Islands was awarded $50,000 to help athletes attend the Special Olympic Games in Los Angeles the following summer. In 2014, the inaugural DG’s 5K Challenge raised $12,500 for Cayman HospiceCare (now known as Jasmine) towards its new premises on West Bay Road.

The event raises money through a combination of corporate sponsorship pledges and the registration fees of participants.

The walk/run will be held on Sunday, 15 September, on Cayman Brac and Sunday, 29 September, on Grand Cayman. Due to seasonal accommodation closures, this year’s event will not take place on Little Cayman. However, pending logistics, organisers hope to reinstate the event on all three Cayman Islands in 2020.

For more information or to register for the DG’s 5K Challenge go to the CaymanActive website. Companies interested in sponsoring the event or anyone who wants to donate can contact fundraising subcommittee chairwoman Nancy Barnard at SupportDG5k@gov.ky.

Tags: Deputy Governor's 5K Challenge, Featured

Category: Community, Fundraiser, Service Organisations