Veteran marathon runner raises cash for hospice

(CNS): Former senior police officer and local sports personality Derek Haines raised more than $34,000 through sponsorships and donations for the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon last year in order to buy a vehicle for HospiceCare. Keys to a brand new Ford Escape were recently turned over to the centre after Vampt supplied the car at cost and government waived the duty. A surplus of $12,000 was alsopresented to Cayman Rugby for its youth development programmes.

“I am extremely grateful to all those who have so generously supported this worthwhile cause,” said Haines, a long-time Rotary member who has been running marathons since 1982.

“HospiceCare does such a great job helping people who are terminally ill, as well as providing comfort to the family. It’s a charity I have some personal contact with, including friends and fellow Rotarians who suffered from cancer,” he added.

HospiceCare Operations and Fundraising Manager Jennifer Grant-McCarthy said the donation of the vehicle has been a great boost to the organization.
“Everyone got involved supporting Derek, and we’re extremely grateful,” she said. “Almost all of the care we provide is in the person’s home, so it is very helpful to have a reliable vehicle on site.”

This year, Haines, senior manager of security at Dart Cayman, will be running the 26.2-mile marathon in December to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society that will be earmarked to assist with fitting out a chemotherapy facility.

Haines previously raised $67,000 in the 2010 marathon, which bought a new bus for Cayman’s Special Olympic athletes.

Cayman HospiceCare is a not-for-profit organization that provides palliative care free of charge to anyone with cancer or other end-stage illnesses. Specialty nursing staff manage pain and other symptoms, and attend to the well-being of both patient and family.