Published by Neil ThompsonStaff from Unique Vacations UK, Sandals & Beaches Resorts’ sales and marketing representatives, have pledged to run 100 kilometres around the island of Antigua to raise £100,000 for sick children in the Caribbean.
A team of eight from the Company’s UK and European offices are running back-to-back half marathons over four days, 11th – 14th October 2023, to raise money for the Sandals Foundation, Sandals Resorts International’s philanthropic arm.
All donations from The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 will go to the SickKids Caribbean Initiative and the Paediatric Unit of Mount St. John's Medical Centre in Antigua to fund medical equipment and resources to help treat sick children in the Caribbean. Both organisations are long term beneficiaries of the Sandals Foundation which has supported projects valued at over $79 million USD to date, under the key pillars of community, education and the environment. Projects funded by the Sandals Foundation are thought to have impacted the lives of over 1.1 million people in the Caribbean since the charity was established in 2009.
“The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 was born out of a brainstorm over a few drinks. We wanted to come up with a physical challenge to help sick children in the Caribbean and support the vital work carried out by the Sandals Foundation. Our goal is to raise £100,000 but we actually hope to smash that, thanks to the support of our sponsors and partners. What better place to push ourselves and raise money for Caribbean communities than on the beautiful island of Antigua?”
Graeme Saunders, Senior Manager, Groups & MICE, for Unique Vacations UK
The SickKids Caribbean Initiative (SCI) is on a mission to improve the lives of children diagnosed with paediatric cancer and blood disorders. By connecting Caribbean doctors and nurses to the world, the Sandals Foundation will help them make an even bigger difference for those who need it the most. The collaboration between SCI and the Sandals Foundation has helped establish the Eastern Caribbean's only oncology unit, as well as the development of seven telemedicine facilities in six countries. It has also helped fund the training of five Caribbean paediatricians and 41 nurses in haematology and oncology, as well as data collection of children with sickle cell disease and cancer. Funds raised from The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 will be donated to SCI endowment fund, ensuring the continued sustainability of the initiative, benefitting many for years to come.
The Paediatric Unit at Mount St. John's Medical Centre in Antigua is the only acute care facility on the island which offers 24-hour emergency care, giving babies in need of critical care and those born prematurely a better fighting chance. With over 1,500 admissions since 2015, the Sandals Foundation’s donation of two Comprehensive Infant Care Centres and other medical equipment has aided the success of the neonatal department's service. The proceeds from The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 will be used to purchase much-needed medical equipment, giving new-borns a better chance of survival.
The team taking part in The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 will endure hot and humid conditions as they take on the challenge. Each leg will be split into roughly 25 kilometres, more than the length of a half marathon, and will cover off different parts of the island each day. Starting and ending at Dickenson Bay, where Sandals Grande Antigua is located, the route will take in iconic sights such as Jolly Harbour, English Harbour, Nelson’s Dockyard and the Sir Viv Richards’ Cricket Stadium. The team will also be visiting projects sponsored by the Sandals Foundation at the end of each day, including The Paediatric Unit at Mount St. John's Medical Centre, to see firsthand what a difference the money raised will make to children and their families. Once the team has completed the final leg of the challenge on 14th October, there will be a beach party celebration held at Sandals Grande Antigua for local people and sponsors to attend, including the EMC3, Mail Metro Media Group, TTG magazine, Good Housekeeping magazine and Visit Antigua & Barbuda.
For more information about The Sandals Foundation Island Run – Antigua 2023 and to donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/islandrun.
For more information about the Sandals Foundation and the important projects the charity supports each year, please visit www.sandalsfounation.org
