The Addison Kelly Butterfly 5K Walk/Run returns to Camana Bay this Saturday, 7 Feb., for the fourth consecutive year.
The annual event was established by the family of 16-year-old Addison Kelly following her death by suicide in February 2022.
‘Overwhelmingly positive’ community engagement
Organisers reported that community engagement for the 2026 edition “has been overwhelmingly positive, with registrations already tracking toward another record year.”
They’ve shared that registration numbers have already exceeded last year’s 1,670 participants recorded in 2025.
Online registration remains open until Wednesday, 4 Feb. and late in-person registration and packet pickup for all those already registered will be available at the Observation Tower in Camana Bay on Thursday between 4-7pm and on Friday from 9am-6pm.
On race morning, activities begin at 5am, where participants can collect butterfly wings and temporary tattoos before the start of the walk/run at 6:30am.
Each registration includes a shirt while supplies last, a race bib, and a finisher’s medal.
“Proceeds from the event support the Addison Kelly Mental Health Education Fund, a programme of the Alex Panton Foundation, which focuses on increasing education, training and awareness around mental health in the Cayman Islands,” said the organisers.
To date, two scholarship recipients have been awarded through the fund: Jamara Bodden and Shiann Wellington-O’Connor.
The organisers describe the event as one that “continues to bring the community together to honour Addison’s life while raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.”
Memorial wall
For the second consecutive year, a memorial wall has been installed ahead of the event near the Observation Tower as a central feature of the event.
The wall serves “as a powerful tribute to lives lost to suicide and a focal point for reflection, remembrance and awareness” the organisers stated.
“This year, the wall honours 30 individuals, each represented by a hand-crafted wooden tile. The wall was conceptualised by Addison’s mother, Rhonda Kelly, who envisioned it as a meaningful space for healing, connection and acknowledgement of grief,” organisers said.
Kelly said, “We believe that our loved ones should be remembered for the lives they lived, the love they gave and the impact they had on others. Having their names acknowledged validates their lives and the grief of those left behind. The wall is intended to be a place of reflection and comfort and a reminder that no one is alone.”
The structure, built and donated by Arch & Godfrey, displays 30 hand-crafted wooden tiles painted by Caymanian artist Kara Julian, guided by the families’ stories and memories of their loved ones.
Each tile represents an individual lost to suicide, providing a designated space for reflection and acknowledgement of grief. Following the event, these tiles are given to the families as keepsakes.
“Our hope is that the memorial wall continues to spark important conversations around mental health, reduce stigma and encourage compassion and understanding. For the time it stands, it represents love, remembrance and a shared commitment to doing better as a community,” added Kelly.
To join the starting line, interested participants can sign up online here.
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