(CMR) Ultra athlete Kerri Kanuga and friends ran a 107-mile circumnavigation of Grand Cayman from Starfish Point to Barkers and back again on Sunday, 5 May, kicking off 500+ miles of ultramarathons to raise funds for the Cayman Heart Foundation.
There is a Go Get Funding page where people can also donate to support Kanuga's fundraiser: https://gogetfunding.com/run-from-the-heart-500-part-one-107-miles-in-grand-cayman/
The funds raised will assist the Cayman Heart Foundation (CHF) in its mission to improve cardiovascular health for all in the Cayman Islands by educating the public, influencing policy, and supporting access to high-quality care through various programs and initiatives.
Kanuga will go on to complete solo challenges at Badwater 135 (a blistering 135-mile run through Death Valley, USA, in July), at Spartathlon (a 153-mile historic race from Athens to Sparta in Greece in September), and at Daytona 100 (a 100-mile ultramarathon along Florida's East Coast barrier island in December).
Cayman Heart Foundation is dear to Kanuga due to her own personal experiences.
“When I was in Canada over Christmas, I learned one of my friends has a grandson who is in need of a new heart. He is only three years old. I was very saddened to hear this, and I know there is a need in the Cayman Islands for these types of procedures,” she said.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Cayman Islands. Through this Herculean effort, Kanuga hopes to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the nonprofit organization founded by Suzy Soto in 2007.
The funds raised will help CHF provide lifesaving services such as free health screenings, CPR training, and assistance to individuals who require access to lifesaving treatment.
Cayman Heart Foundation provides free public health screenings, CPR training, AED donations, and wellness programs such as the “War on Weight” and “Get Active.” It also offers a pediatric assistance program for babies born with life-threatening congenital heart problems.
Other athletes who joined Kerri for all or part of the “Twice Round the Rock” 107-mile Grand Cayman event include her good friends Denis Olarou and John Royle, among others.
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