The Rotary clubs of the Cayman Islands are asking companies to put their beds together to raise funds to benefit the Rotary International’s Polio Eradication program: “PolioPlus” on March, 15.
All local rotary clubs, as well as the Rotaract club and the EarlyAct club are helping with this initiative. Racers will meet at the Waterfront in George Town where they will race to in an effort to eradicate polio – which still remains endemic in three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
“All of the proceeds are going towards the Rotary’s foundations program called PolioPlus, the funds are raised to eradicate polio and we’ve joined with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation so every dollar we contribute will be matched with two dollars,” said Fiona Moseley, past president of Rotary Central.
According to a press release issued on the Rotary International’s website, “The Gates Foundation will match two-to-one, up to US$35 million per year, every dollar Rotary commits to reduce the funding shortfall for polio eradication through 2018.”
Get in bed
The bed race involves “a fun day” where teams can “build a bed,” and then race it. Last year, the corporations entered and got creative with the project.
“We’ve had all kinds of beds in the past, like a solar-powered bed and even Red Riding Hood theme with a grandma in her bed and the wolf,” said Ms. Moseley.
Even if you are not entering the competition, you can still join in the fun,
“It’s a lot of fun where everybody gets together, just come out and have a look at the beds, the race itself will start at about 2 p.m., Ms. Moseley said.
Onlookers will also have the opportunity to donate to the PolioPlus program, as there will be various donation boxes set up during the race.
Race against polio
“From a company perspective, it’s a great team building event,” said Ms. Moseley.
Racers can enter in a team of six and are required to build their own bed, and race it down the waterfront at George Town on race day.
An entry fee of $200 to Rotary Central is required for each team. So far, Rotary has received 12 registrations but “we’d really like to get more,” said Ms. Moseley.
The requirements for building your bed are simple. “It’s a bed on wheels, it needs four wheels, a mattress, and it needs handles so that you can have four people pushing it, and it can’t be mechanically powered,” said Ms. Moseley.
Teams are encouraged to check in at 1 p.m for a bed inspection and Ms. Moseley urges racers to construct their beds carefully as “we do have wheels fall off every now and again.”
Judging of the beds will take place at 2 p.m, and the race will push off at 3 p.m.
Once the best beds are chosen, an awards ceremony will be held and the festivities will conclude with an after-party at Margaritaville.
The Rotary clubs of Cayman raised a little over $6,000 in last year’s bed race last year.
For more information, visit www.bedrace.ky.
Related Videos
