Cash from fun-run to help Special Olympians
(CNS): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has revealed that the Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI) will be this year’s beneficiary of his annual five-kilometre challenge, which will take place on 26 April. The DG’s 5K Challenge is a fundraising fun-run that sees both civil servants, private sector employees and members of the general public pounding the pavement for charity.
Now in its second year, the deputy governor is hoping the event will raise the much-needed cash to help Cayman’s Special Olympians attend the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, California, this summer.
“It is fitting to raise awareness of SOCI, its programmes, its contribution to our community well-being, and to shine the spotlight on the dedicated athletes that overcome significant challenges in their pursuit of excellence,” said Manderson. “There is alignment of SOCI’s values with those of the DG’s 5K Challenge, thus, what better way to ‘challenge’ our civil servants and community to support SOCI and the ambitions of these athletes.”
The DG’s 5K Challenge is open to all ages and abilities, and provides many opportunities to support and participate. This year’s objective is to raise $20,000 for SOCI and be the largest 5K event of its kind.
Antoinette Johnson, head of the delegation of athletes heading to California, said SOCI was honoured to be chosen as the recipients of the challenge’s fundraising.
“This event will certainly help to raise the profile of our programmes and our athletes,” said Johnson. “We will have the largest delegation ever attending the Special Olympic World Games this summer, with 28 athletes and nine unified partners. This fundraiser is a huge boost to our efforts to ensure our athletes are able to attend and have the experience of a lifetime.”
Registration for the DG’s 5K Challenge opens on 2 March 2015, and welcomes support and participation through a wide range of opportunities: donation, volunteering, participation and sponsorship. Registration, questions and expressions of interest can be emailed to DG5K@gov.ky .
SOCI provides sports training for athletes with intellectual challenges for ages 5 years up to adult, and is strongly based on the premise that with sports training and competition, athletes lead fuller, more self-sufficient lives, and are able to achieve success on and off the field of competition.
