Parents and kids had great fun building sand creations to raise money for Brandon McTaggart, a four-year old with Cerebral Palsey.

Altogether more than 20 families took part in the sand creation competition at Seven Mile Beach, raising a total of CI$5000 for little Brandon’s medical expenses through local charity Cayman’s ARK.

This is the third year that Cayman’s ARK, which stands for Acts of Random Kindness, has held the competition, just one of the many ways the charity has helped all kinds of good causes, both here and overseas.

In previous years it was called the sandcastle competition, but this year the name was changed to sand creation competition to reflect the diversity of things that were made – ranging from mermaids to cars to sharks. There was even a mini Emerald Sound construction, complete with a big South Sound road bridge.

Money was mostly raised by charging CI$25 per pitch, but also by charging for other fun activities, including a go on the many different non-motorised items of sports equipment which had been donated for one hour by Red Sail Sports.

There was also a bake-sale and a raffle, with lots of prizes, including vouchers for Flow Yoga, Anytime Fitness training sessions and Sameena’s Salon.

“The sand creation competition is a perfect example of Cayman’s ARK endeavours to encourage the community to work as one for the greater good. It’s very moving to see all the families and children working together, having fun all the while blessing little Brandon’s family.

“It also created tremendous awareness not only about Brandon but about the condition and the hardships that come to any family dealing with that kind of crisis,” member of Cayman’s ARK, Tara Nielsen, said.

There were many different categories for winners, and lots of wonderful prizes, including tickets to Hollywood Theatres, a Moby Dick tour to Stingray City and a trip in the Nautilus Submarine for the whole family.

Cayman’s ARK’s next big fundraiser is going to be called Moving Art for ARK. Artists Avril Ward, Sue Howe and Renate Steffer will be donating 50 percent from the sale of their paintings to Moving Art for ARK at the 29 October private gallery showing by the three local artists. To be held at 22 Kosta Boda, Crystal Harbour.

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