West Bay turned into a sea of green as walkers and runners alike took on the annual Turtle Crawl 5K Walk/Run on Sunday, 26 April.
Presented by the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, the event attracted approximately 500 participants – about 200 walkers and 300 runners – including fitness enthusiasts, families and people just wanting to support conservation efforts in the Cayman Islands.
This was the first year that the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability was sponsoring the Turtle Crawl 5K Walk/Run. Stephanny Reyes, marketing manager at the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, said, “Having the Ministry … come on board as the presenting sponsor for the first time was incredibly meaningful for the Turtle Crawl 5k and for the Centre overall.
“Their support reinforced the shared connection between environmental protection, public health and community wellbeing. It elevated the event’s visibility and credibility, while also underscoring that conservation is a national priority. For the Centre, it was a strong affirmation of the work we do year‑round and helped amplify our message about protecting sea turtles and Cayman’s natural environment.”
Support for the cause was demonstrated clearly by Governor Jane Owen, Premier André Ebanks, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and the Deputy Premier Gary Rutty, as they joined the walkers and enthusiastically kicked off the event at 6am.
‘A great race’
The runners started at 6.15am after a brief warm up, heading down to catch up with the walkers.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the event with people taking it at their own pace. Some had strollers and children participated as well. The premier and governor along with other members of government and family and friends could be seen deep in conversation as they walked briskly back to the finish line.
Some of the runners found the run to be satisfying, but a bit on the warm side.
Jenn Tran, one runner, said, “I was doing just fine but towards the end I started to really feel the heat. My fiancée said he could hear the crowd at the end and encouraged me to keep going, and then we were done – it was much closer than I thought. I’m also really glad we did it – it was a great race.”
Hayden Gray, Tran’s finance, added, “The entire event was nicely done. It had a very positive, community feel about it. We both really enjoyed participating.”
Dozens of prizes
Following the walk and run, prizes were awarded to the first male and female to cross the finish line. There was a tie for the male category, with awards presented to Gustavo Silva and Mike McDonald. The fastest female runner prize was awarded to Bee Groenewald.
Additional prizes were also awarded, including for the fastest children, along with an extensive raffle featuring giveaways such as brunch at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa and a health check voucher from Health City Cayman Islands valued at more than $700. Winners also received annual passes to the Cayman Turtle Centre.
Snacks, coffees and other refreshments were also available, and participants relaxed and cooled off as the raffle took place but also mingled and enjoyed catching up with other participants.
Staff volunteers
Reyes said, “Staff from every department came together to make the Turtle Crawl a success, collaborating over months of planning and arriving as early as 4am on event day to begin setup and ensure everything ran smoothly.
“Each year, it’s inspiring to see staff volunteer their time – whether helping behind the scenes or taking part in the walk and run themselves. They take great pride in the event and genuinely enjoy being part of a team effort that continues to grow year after year, alongside the support of the wider community.”
In addition to being a friendly, engaging event, Reyes highlighted that the funds were important for the organisation as they are needed to support initiatives each year. “We’re directing this year’s funds toward expanding our medical capabilities, most notably to purchase a portable radiograph machine to support enhanced veterinary care,” she said.
She also spoke about the overall purpose of the annual event.
“The Turtle Crawl is a meaningful way to share our conservation work and education initiatives, while also encouraging everyone to take part in protecting wildlife – whether that’s waking up early to join a 5K or making small everyday choices like helping to keep our beaches clean.
“Every effort counts, and everyone can be a conservationist,” she said.
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