Nutrition in Demand and Move-a-thonTCI attracts International Runners

#TurksandCaicos, January 19, 2018 – Providenciales –  A crisp, cool morning; a brisk breeze is blowing and the moon is high and shining bright before it gives way to a beautiful sunrise!  This was the backdrop of Move-a-thonTCI 2018.  This event was held this past Saturday on January 13^th and from everyone present, was another smashing success!  This 5k, 10k and half marathon fundraising event is in its seventh year and is the first local athletic event in each New Year.  It is held every second weekend in January and is seen as a way to help participants kick start their new Year’s Resolutions of living a healthier lifestyle.

For the first time in Turks & Caicos Island history, international runners came in to run a full marathon.  Organizer of the event and Registered Dietitian, Mrs. Tamika Handfield said, “Adding the full marathon was daunting yet very exciting!  We are pleased to show that Sports Tourism can be a reality in our Beautiful by Nature country.”  Runners in the full marathon, took to the streets at 5:00am; while participants in the 5k, 10k and half marathon distances began at 6:00am.

As in previous years, Move-a-thonTCI was held at the Children’s Park in the Lower Bight.  Before the participants left to walk, run or cycle the various distances, personal trainer from Graceway Sports Center, Adina Ciurar, provided a stretching/warm-up session for everyone.   Once they returned from the route, health professionals from various medical disciplines were set up and ready to disseminate free medical information.

This year, with the help of our corporate sponsors and participants, we were able to raise quite a bit of funds.  It is still too early to give a figure, but we will do so as soon as we can.   All of the funds raised during this event, goes to help Nutrition in Demand continue its mandate of raising awareness to the importance of health and healthy eating.  This is done through a variety of projects: workshops, nutrition education and culinary classes, KidFit—an exercise program geared toward children, summer camps and writing informative articles and blogs for newspapers and magazines.

Mrs. Handfield said, “We believe knowledge is power.   So, these much needed funds will help us to teach others how to make better, informed food choices.”   She also added, “I am thrilled at the turn out!!  Our records show that well over 200 persons registered and participated in this year’s Move-a-thon!  I am always humbled at the support this event gets every year.  I must say thank you to all of our corporate sponsors because this event would not be as successful as it was without their support.”

Corporate sponsors to the event included: Colonial Insurance, Long Bay Storage, Grace Bay Pharmacy, Graceway Supermarkets, Ports of Call Resorts, Grace Bay Car Rental, Provo Water, People’s Television (PTV), Spotlight Communications, The Hartling Group, Magnetic Media, The Sun Newspaper, Miller & Simons, Turks & Caicos Banking, Seven Stars, J S Johnson, Scotia Bank, FLOW, Dolmen Construction, GK Insurance, Blue Loos, Sun Oil, Sunny Foods, Prime DJ’s, Isle Help, Fortis TCI, ACCU Diagnostics and Coca Cola.  We must also say a huge thanks to the community of Providenciales, all of the volunteers who gave of their time, the staff of EMS, The Red Cross, Mr. Kevin Clarke and the Royal Turks & Caicos Police Force.  Until next year, January 12, 2019.

Release: 

Tamika Handfield MS, RD 

Nutrition in Demand