Under the patronage of Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs. Helen Kilpatrick, together with the support of the Cayman HospiceCare (“Hospice”) and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, 65 years old veteran runner Derek Haines has accepted a challenge to run 6 marathons in 2014 in order to raise funds for a new purpose built Hospice building that will include the ability for Hospice to offer inpatient care.

The Governor has also generously agreed to host a reception at her residence in March to launch the appeal.

Derek’s first challenge will be the Paris marathon on April 6th, swiftly followed by the London marathon, a week later, on April 13th. Derek has also applied to enter the New York marathon, is considering Chicago and is hoping that his daughter, Lizzy, can join him on another one in the Pacific basin in late June. The final challenge will be the Cayman marathon in December

Derek said, “This is an exciting challenge but I am sure I am up to it; although this is twice the number I have ever run in a year before. It is also the largest appeal I have been directly involved in but, if previous fund raisers are a guide, I am confident we can raise the required amount for this very necessary facility.”

The Hospice Facility, which ideally will be set in pleasant surroundings in a calm environment, will cost in the region of CI$1 million and will serve as an operations and administration building to include offices for the clinical team, that will continue to provide at home care as well as inpatient care, together with both the administration and fundraising staff.

Attached, with a separate entrance, will be en suite rooms, for an in-patient hospice facility, with the attendant supporting elements such as a kitchen, lounge for family etc.

The need for storage of both medical and fundraising event elements and a kitchen for Lunch Club activities will also be included.

All travel costs and registration fees will be self-funded by Derek; and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman is donating £2,000 pounds sterling to the British Hospice Society to guarantee his entry into the London race.

Rotary Club treasurer Chris Johnson is opening a dedicated bank account to accommodate donations towards the appeal. Chris said, ’Every dollar that is donated to this appeal will be used for completing this new Hospice facility. There will be no administrative costs or other expenses paid from it and I think this is very important for donors to understand.”

Derek, whose marathon appeals in the past 4 years have raised over CI$250,000 for local charities, went on to say, “Folks have been very generous with their support and most people understand the need for a care facility of this kind. I have already received promises of substantial funding and of other means of completing this project. A million dollars is a large amount but we can raise it.”