Marathon runner Derek Haines handed over the keys to a new Ford Escape truck to Cayman HospiceCare after raising money to buy the vehicle through sponsorship and fundraising in the lead up to last years Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon.
The veteran runner raises funds for charitable causes every year as a participant in the marathon.
In December, he raised more than $34,000 through sponsorships and donations to purchase the vehicle for HospiceCare. Vampt Motors provided the Ford Escape at cost and the government waived the duty, bringing the full value to more than $40,000.
After purchasing the vehicle, a surplus of $12,000 was presented to Cayman Rugby for its youth development programmes.
“I am extremely grateful to all those who have so generously supported this worthwhile cause,” said Mr. Haines, a long-time Rotary member who has been running marathons since 1982. “HospiceCare does such a great job helping people who are terminally ill, as well as providing comfort to the family. It’s a charity I have some personal contact with, including friends and fellow Rotarians who suffered from cancer.”
Organisations that donated $5,000 had their logos inscribed on the hospice vehicle, which included Esso, DART, Vampt Motors, and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman. To encourage individual donations, those pledging $25 or more had a chance to win six bottles of champagne by guessing closest to his finishing time.
Using similar incentives, Mr. Haines raised $67,000 in the 2010 marathon, which bought a new bus for Cayman’s Special Olympic athletes. Surplus funds were donated to youth rugby, a pet programme of Mr. Haines.
HospiceCare Operations and Fundraising Manager Jennifer Grant-McCarthy said the donation of the vehicle has been a boost to the organisation.
“Everyone got involved supporting Derek, and we’re extremely grateful,” she said. “Almost all of the care we provide is in the person’s home, so it is very helpful to have a reliable vehicle on site.”
This year, Mr. Haines, senior manager of security at Dart Cayman, will be running the 26.2-mile marathon in December to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society that will be earmarked to assist with fitting out a chemotherapy facility.
Cayman HospiceCare is a nonprofit organisation providing palliative care free of charge to anyone with cancer or other end-stage illnesses. Specialty nursing staff manage pain and other symptoms, and attend to the well-being of both patient and family.
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