The Tribune

REIGNING champion of the Dog Days Half Marathon School Challenge, The Beacon School, is eyeing another victory with a line-up that includes Special Olympic athletes.

Four of their athletes will represent the country in Abu Dhabi at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games this month.

“Our athletes may have special needs but they are still athletes,” said Beacon School Principal Titi McKenzie-Moss, who stressed the importance of events like Dog Days.

She continued: “They require exercise and training just like other athletes. Events like Dog Days give special needs athletes great exposure and the opportunity to train, and makes the community aware of our special needs population.”

The students won the challenge last year, with sponsorship support from Freeport Ship Services and MSC Freeport (Bahamas). The school entered 20 students last year and also won a cash prize of $500 for earning the most points during the marathon, each mile accrued by the athletes earned the school one point.

There are presently 108 students enrolled at the Beacon School, which is Grand Bahama’s special needs education centre.

Fifty students, ranging from ages 8 to 18, 10 teachers and aides, have all been sponsored by MSC Freeport (Bahamas). “We get asked to give a lot in our business,” said an MSC representative.

“Watching these kids run and challenge each other and seeing the pure joy they had in joining in this race – was a huge staff morale booster. Our boss was adamant to make sure we sponsored them all this year.”

Event directors of the 2019 Grand Bahama Dog Days Half Marathon are making an appeal to businesses to sponsor school teams that are interested in competing in the marathon’s “School Challenge” on March 23 in Freeport.

The entry fee for students in the one mile fun/run walk is $10 for children 10 years and under, $20 for the 5K and 10K, and $35 for the half marathon. The fee includes the time chipped bib, race day medal and commemorative race day UPF sun t-shirt, celebrating the Grand Bahama Dog Days Half Marathon’s 5th Anniversary.

Organisers have added a new incentive for student registrants this year with all schools eligible to win prizes in all race categories, including cash prizes of $250, $500, and $1,000 in the half marathon.

To qualify, schools need to speak directly to organisers Nikki Waugh or Siobhan Antoni-Bates via their Facebook or website, www.grandbahamadogdayshalfmarathon.com.

“Seeing the smiles and joy on the children’s faces last year was priceless,” said Siobhan Antoni-Bates, Dog Day Marathon co-director. “Sometimes we underestimate the power of charity and what it can mean to others who have never participated in events like ours.”