WALKING FOR A CURE

By Christopher Tobutt

Usually, at least in non-covid times, FirstCarribean’s 5K Walk for a Cure attracts well over a thousand. This time, there were only a hundred or less, because the official walk was cancelled by the organizers, because of the covid-in-the-community scare, amid fears that such a big gathering is bound to pass it on. But people still came. There were only handfuls of them, small groups here and there, and they were for the most-part, pretty careful to social-distance. Because it was unofficial, here was no great big official “start,” they just got going when they wanted to, from the West Bay Public Beach southwards down west bay road, and then turning around at blue Cilantro restaurant, .and back up again. Some ran it, but the majority walked the 5K distance. There were quite a lot of children and parents taking part, and it was nice and relaxed and a lot of fun.

Omar Chambers, cofounder of Link International accountancy firm was one of the ones who had decided he wanted to go ahead, despite the cancellation, and was there with members of his group. “We do this every year in support of the Cancer Society,” he said. “The organizers just said whoever wants to take part can still take part, and they will post pictures on social media. We went ahead anyway just to show our support.”

“We are supporters of any event that looks forward to fighting the cause of cancer, because it’s prevalent here in Cayman and a lot of people are dying from it so we hope that one day this will contribute to the overall cure. That is the reason why we are doing this.”

Teacher Dorothy Chambers was proud that two groups of her students, one from UCCI and the other from John Gray, had come out to walk for a cure. “We want to make sure that we contribute – its our social responsibility to give back. A cure for cancer, it’s a prayer, it’s a dream and anything we can do to contribute to that becoming a reality, we want to be a part of it.”

One of the people in her group, John Gray Student Marisa Dunbar, 15, wanted to walk for a cure. “I did it because I feel that as part of the community it is very important to give back,” she said, while UCCI student Lacieanne Nelson said, “the reason I want to do this is it’s a social responsibility to help the persons that have cancer to know that we care about others around the world, we want them to get well and we will do whatever small part we can to ensure that we help out in that aspect.

A mother, father and two young ones, one a baby in a stroller and the other a young boy, were walking too, and enjoying it, “Its for cancer awareness isn’t it?” said Tanya Salvaterra. “Most people in the world know somebody who has cancer.