The Tribune

GRAND Bahama’s third annual Dog Days Half Marathon is set for March 25, 2017, and organisers are excited to announce their first official partner, PharmaChem Co Ltd.

Last year, Dog Days welcomed over 400 runners both local and international and this year race directors, Siobhan Antoni-Bates and Nikki Waugh, hope to increase numbers, sponsorships, competition and give it an overall Bahamian flair.

“Our event grew tremendously last year,” said Ms Waugh. “Siobhan and I were overwhelmed by our initial success but to see this growth was incredible. Right now our island needs events like these more than ever and we are thrilled that corporate Grand Bahama is making it happen for us and our benefactor, the Grand Bahama Humane Society.”

In accomplishing their 2017 goals, PharmaChem has chosen to support the event both financially and through assistance in the Corporate Challenge and support staff for the race day activities.

“We are honoured to have partnered with Dog Days, and have been impressed with all the hard work put in by Nikki and Siobhan it is inspiring,” said Randy Thompson, CEO of PharmaChem. “We want to do what we can to support them, this event now helps promote our beautiful island internationally while also promoting local businesses, health and fitness, and even a little friendly competition. We look forward to seeing an even bigger turnout and seeing if we can beat our competition in the Corporate Challenge – I am already at the gym daily.”

PharmaChem’s assistance will also allow the duo to take this race to the next level; enabling them to double their winner’s prizes this year.

“We will now offer a $1,000 cash prize for the first place male and female half marathoners, $500 for second and $250 for third,” said Mr Bates. “We want to draw some of the serious runners not only from Florida but from our family islands so that we can showcase Grand Bahama’s own half marathon.”

In addition to the prizes the team will add real Bahamian flair by having a Junkanoo rush-out at the finish lines to congratulate all runners.

Money raised will be given to the Grand Bahama Humane Society, and Dog Days has now become the organisation’s largest annual fundraiser. A portion of the proceeds will also go towards Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.