$81,675 has been raised for Alex Panton Foundation, the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre and the Special Needs Foundation Cayman. 

GRAND CAYMAN (GIS) – The 2019 DG’s 5K Challenge raised $81,675 for the Alex Panton Foundation, the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre and the Special Needs Foundation Cayman, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson MBE announced on Wednesday, 27 November.

The grand total is $11,675 more than the $70,000 goal Mr. Manderson set for the event, which was held this year on the Brac and in Grand Cayman in September.

“I am thrilled that we raised such an impressive amount for each of these tremendous causes,” he said. “This year’s donation has exceeded our expectations and is testament to the generosity of our corporate sponsors and is a true marker of the community-mindedness of both the public and private sectors in the Cayman Islands.”

Mr. Manderson revealed the huge fund-raising total during a reception at Government House held to thank sponsors, the DG’s 5K Challenge organising committee and the event’s many volunteers.

Almost 2,000 walkers and runners took part in this year’s DG’s 5K Challenge.

“I’m really proud of how much this event has grown since we launched in 2014 and I am grateful to everyone who has helped make it a success,” said Mr. Manderson. “It is so rewarding to support great community causes and work on improving our own health at the same time.”

During the reception, Mr. Manderson presented appreciation plaques to the event’s platinum sponsor, Appleby and to the gold sponsors: Butterfield, Credit Union, Dart, Davenport and EY. Certificates of thanks were also presented to the event’s other numerous corporate partners.

Winners of the event’s coveted prizes were also revealed: Cayman Prep and High School won the school trophy with 96 participants; Maples was awarded the corporate cup for having 92 participants; the Health Services Authority picked up the honour of SAGC with the most participants; the Public Service Pensions Board received the cup for SAGC with the highest percentage participation; the core agency with the most participants was the Cayman Islands Fire Service and the prize for the core agency with the highest participation went to the Needs Assessment Unit at 100%! 

The evening culminated with Mr. Manderson revealing the grand total raised and presenting cheques for $27,224.95 to representatives from each of the charities.

Dates for next year’s DG’s 5K Challenge have already been set for: 5 April (Cayman Brac), 19 April (Little Cayman) and 26 April (Grand Cayman).