UK and local athletes Complete the Ultimate Island Challenge and Raise £100,000 for Saint Lucia’s Special Care Baby Unit

It was a formidable show of strength and will as more than 30 local and international athletes completed 4-exciting days of run, kayak, cross country rainforest trek, and a volcanic hike of Gros Piton successfully raising an extraordinary £100,000 for the Special Care Baby Unit at the Millenium Heights Medical Complex and an additional £30,500 to support wider paediatric healthcare in the Caribbean.

The humidity, heat, and threat of an impending tropical weather system were no match for the participants in the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge as they displayed determination and incredible sportsmanship, supporting each other every step of the way.

“I think I and everyone else is 100% been motivated by the amazing cause that we are doing it all for,” said international athlete representing TripAdvisor, Ashley Jones. For local athlete Bianca Young representing Fauna and Flora International, the event created bonds, “We shared stories about our individual physical endurance experiences that really pushed our bodies and that bonded us.”

Speaking at the cheque handover ceremony at Sandals Halcyon Resort on Monday, October 20, Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation described Island Challenge Saint Lucia as a resounding success.

“The ability to not just showcase the beauty of Saint Lucia over these past four days to journalists, and travel partners, but to do all this in the name of building the capacity of healthcare to change the outcomes for children is something that we can’t really put a value to.”

“We have seen how beneficial this Island Challenge has been in both Antigua and St. Vincent and how the hospitals and the families have benefited from this,” Clarke continued, “We are extremely grateful to everyone who have come on board to make this possible. We are looking forward to next year and are excited to announce that in due course.”

Executed in partnership with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association Tourism Enhancement Fund, this weekend’s event will see the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts purchase a suite of lifesaving equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit at the Millenium Heights Medical Complex. These will include a neonatal ventilator or life support machine, a nesting system, infant warmer, incubator, infusion pump, jaundice meter and infant blankets to stabilize and treat complications that may arise from infections or preterm births especially within the first 28-days.

Dr. Lashorn Christian, Head of the Paediatric Department at Millenium Heights Medical Complex in expressing gratitude noted, “We are truly grateful for the pledge of equipment for which each is part of a vital list needed by the Special Care Baby Unit to support the survival and recovery of neonates.”

On Friday, October 17 over 30 local and international athletes started the ultimate 4-day test of physical and mental endurance executing a 10Km run from Sandals Halcyon Resort in Castries to Sandals Grande Resort in Pigeon Island Gros Islet, 10km sea kayak from Sandals Grande to Sandals Halcyon, a cross country rainforest trek from Micou to Fond St. Jacque in Soufriere on day 2, a 12km half marathon run from Pigeon Island to Sandals La Toc on day 3, and ending on Monday with a volcanic hike up the Gros Piton.

The event, the first of its kind on the island was also successfully executed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024 and in Antigua and Barbuda in 2023.

“There is power in the strength of the tourism network to effect real and sustainable change. We are incredibly honored to be in a position to connect with our incredible local and international travel and corporate partners to make this event a reality. Today, we have witnessed the global love for St. Lucia and children of the Caribbean,” Karen Zacca Director of Operations at the Sandals Foundation.

Local partners of the event include CPJ Saint Lucia, Island Routes, Harris Paints International, Caribbean Metals Limited, Superior Tours, Carnival Sailing, Excel Signs, Amicus Legal, Nico Tours, Grew Industries 1989 Ltd., Acado St. Lucia, Golden Egg Farms, RJB Hotel Supplies, and Heineken. While the list of international partners making the event possible are British Airways, Mobile Media, Mail Metro Media Group, RedPill, Accord Marketing, TTG Media, TripAdvisor, Hays Travel, Hearst, Threadneedle Media, The InPrint Group, EightandFour, Air Canada Vacations, and WeTransfer.