Sandals Foundation aims to raise US$100,000 from its Island Challenge event in SVG

Within five months of operations, Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines, through its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Foundation Island, will be seeking to raise a minimum of US$ 100, 000.

That is the target for the first ever Island Challenge that will take place here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The proceeds of the Island Challenge will go towards the purchase of much needed equipment for the Paediatric Ward of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, as well as the people of the Southern Grenadines who were ravaged by Hurricane Beryl, on July 1, 2024.

Spanning a period of four days, the Island Challenge is set to take place from October 11-14, 2024, all geared for fun, while contributing to worthy causes.

As disclosed last Friday, August 16, 2024, at a media launch at the Sandals Resorts, Buccament, day one, October 11, sees the roll out of the packed activities on Bequia with a half -marathon, from Paget Farm to Port Elizabeth.

On October 12, day two, there will be a Run and Kayak Challenge with the Run taking place from Sandals Resorts to Wallilabou Beach, and the Kayak event from Cumberland Bay to the Sandals Resorts; while day three, October 13, will see the Ministry of Health hosting a fun day at the Cruise Ship Terminal.

Also on day three, there will be a 15 km run from Argyle to the Cruise Ship Terminal, and a Kayak Challenge from the Cruise Ship Terminal to Sandals Resorts.

The challenge culminates on October 14, day four, with a hike from Sandals Resorts to the Vermont Nature Trail.

Delving into the origins of the Island Challenge, General Manager of Sandals St Vincent, Tamon Allen explained that, “ Since the first Sandals Resort opened its doors in 1981, it has been part of the company’s ethos to immerse itself and support the local communities…Island Challenge 2024 is more than an event”. He said, “it is the testament to the dedication of Sandals Resorts and our philanthropic arm, Sandals Foundation, to invest in the sustainable development for our Caribbean communities and improving lives”.

Allen noted that the Island Challenge also forges partnerships with government ministries and other entities.

One such partner is the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, whose Minister, St Clair Prince, in lauding the initiative of the Sandals Foundation commended, “Yours fits into Vincy Moves, because we in this country and the entire region as a whole have been beset with the issues of non- communicable diseases [which]can be eliminated through ‘bite the size’…This Island Challenge is going to be a very good fillip to this programme that we have”.

Thanking Sandals Foundation for its foresight, Prince added: “We also welcome your contribution to improvement to our paediatric and neo- natal services here in St Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, Carlos James, giving his ministry’s blessing to the undertaking, extolled the positive spin-offs that can accrue.

“I am excited to welcome to our island for the first time the Challenge; the number of activities that are planned within the programme…the exposure that it brings to the island in terms of our marketing, as well as brand awareness about the country and about St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

He lauded the partnership between Sandals Foundation, the Ministry of Health, and the Tourism Authority “to make sure that the lives and livelihoods of people in St Vincent and the Grenadines are sustainable”.

Other persons speaking at the launch were CEO of the Tourism Authority, Annette Mark, and Dr. Mischka Duncan- Adams, Paediatric Consultant at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), who expressed delight at the likely positive impacts of the Island Challenge event.