More than 250 people turned out at Festival Green, Camana Bay for the Cayman Islands’ inaugural weekly parkrun.
The free event, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, saw participants walk, jog or run a five-kilometre course, while volunteers helped with roles including marshalling, timing and welcoming participants.
The launch, on Saturday, 29 August, follows the government’s recent Move It Cayman campaign, which encouraged residents to incorporate more movement and physical activity into their daily lives.
Health minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said the turnout showed there was an appetite for regular opportunities to be active.
“Healthy communities are built through opportunities that people can realistically return to week after week,” she said in a press release.
“By supporting initiatives like parkrun, we are helping to create an environment where being active can become a normal and enjoyable part of community life.”
The Festival Green parkrun will take place every Saturday at 6:30am throughout the year.
Event director Robert Duggan said the parkrun was intended to provide a consistent opportunity for exercise and community connection.
“Our event is a perfect cornerstone of the Move It Cayman initiative – we’ll be at Festival Green every Saturday morning throughout the year, offering a repeatable opportunity for movement and community around which good habits and healthy outcomes can be built,” he said.
Parkrun events are volunteer-led and open to people of all ages and abilities. While participants receive a finishing time, there are no winners or prizes, with the emphasis on participation and consistency.
Chief nursing officer Felicia McLean said the initiative could help turn occasional exercise into a lasting habit.
“An initiative like parkrun gives people a simple starting point, but just as importantly, it gives them a reason to keep coming back,” she said.
The ministry said regular physical activity could also support mental wellbeing and social connection, while helping reduce the risk of lifestyle-related illnesses.
Parkrun began in the United Kingdom more than 20 years ago and has since expanded internationally.
Registration and further information are available through the Festival Green parkrun website or by emailing festivalgreen@parkrun.com
