Hundreds of walkers and runners took advantage of cool winter breezes to participate in the Stride Against Cancer on Sunday.
The Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s fundraiser, which typically attracts more than 2,000 people, had to be modified this year because of COVID restrictions limiting crowd gatherings to fewer than 250 people.
Instead of a mass or staggered start on a set course, participants were encouraged to put on their Stride Against Cancer T-shirts and take on a walk or run of their choice, either on their own or in small groups of friends, family or colleagues.
Cancer Society Operations Manager Jennifer Weber estimates between 1,400 and 1,500 people took part in the event.
Given that so many other 5K runs and community events in Cayman’s calendar had been cancelled in response to COVID restrictions, she said, “we were really nervous that it just wasn’t going to work for us this year”.
‘Stride’ is an important fundraiser for the cancer charity, often bringing in up to $100,000.
The need for the services and financial aid the charity provides has in fact increased, Weber said, and skipping the event one year would have been a big blow.
“We really, really needed the community’s support,” she said. “It’s really important. So, I was thrilled with the turnout.”
Stride is typically split into separate events, with the main route starting on Seven Mile Public Beach, and additional Strides at the same time in North Side and in the Sister Islands.
The ‘Strides’ in North Side and on Little Cayman were able to go ahead as planned on Sunday, as they attract a few dozen participants and remain below the COVID restriction limits for public gatherings.
Cayman Brac’s ‘Stride’ will take place later this year as part of a series of Cancer Society events.
To ensure people had gotten the message about the modified format, Weber went to Seven Mile Public Beach, where she said many participants still passed by in the morning in small spread-out groups of five to 10 people.
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