Under the unified theme Go Further For A Better Barbados, the 2018 edition of the Nation Funathlon, as well as an exciting new fundraising initiative driven by Sol (Barbados) Ltd, were officially launched at a press conference held at the corporate headquarters of Sol on Friday.
Since its introduction as the Nation Fun Walk in 1988, the Nation Funathlon, which will be celebrating its 30th year next month, has raised thousands of dollars for worthy causes making a difference in Barbados.
This year, in partnership with lead sponsors Sol and Digicel, the event will be used to help raise more than $100 000 for the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Nature Fun Ranch, a small non-governmental organisation working successfully to rehabilitate at-risk youth in Barbados.
Valerie Hope, Head of Marketing and Communications, Nation Group, said: “This year, we are very proud to partner with title sponsor Sol (Barbados) Ltd and gold sponsor Digicel for the staging of the 2018 edition of this event, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Nation Fun Walk and the 45th anniversary of The Nation newspaper and will also be used to showcase national pride as part of Independence celebrations for Barbados.”
Hope encouraged all Barbadians to participate to support the efforts of these two very worthy organisations.
“In their individual capacities, they do amazing work daily to help improve the lives of Barbadians and are truly deserving of our support,” she added.
As part of their support of the Nation Funathlon 2018, the team at Sol will be embarking on the Sol 100K Challenge, a complementary fundraising initiative which aims to raise $100 000 to help improve the capacity and efficiency of the Accident & Emergency Department.
Plans for this exciting new venture were unveiled by Ezra Prescod, general manager of Sol, who conveyed the organisation’s continued commitment to giving back to the community.
“Sol has long asserted that while we are in the business of petrol, first and foremost we are in the business of people,” he said, adding that supporting the Nation Funathlon, which he described as “an enduring and positive” initiative, was a natural extension of that commitment.
Prescod added: “We are pleased to introduce the Sol 100K Challenge, which will take place over the course of the next two months. We believe that the Barbadian spirit of generosity will shine through to help us not only reach, but surpass our goal.”
To accomplish the set target, Sol will donate a portion of the proceeds of every gallon of fuel sold between October 1 and November 25 to Accident & Emergency.
Representatives from A&E and Nature Fun Ranch expressed their gratitude and appreciation for being chosen as beneficiaries.
The Funathlon will be held on Sunday, November 25. It will take the form of a 5K walk and run, starting and ending in Jubilee Gardens, Bridgetown.
The race will take place entirely within the boundaries of wider Bridgetown and will encompass key locations that form part of Historic Bridgetown.
The route was selected to pay homage to the origins of The Nation newspaper, which started operations in St Mary’s Row, as well as to celebrate Barbados’ 52nd year of Independence. (PR)