Connor Childs’ swim from Cayman Brac to Little Cayman has raised more than CI$13,000 for land conservation.
The 22-year-old environmental campaigner swam the five-mile stretch on 14 August in aid of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands’ Land Reserve Fund.
And on 1 September, the trust revealed how much Childs’ feat has raised so far, with donations pouring in from individuals and businesses locally and internationally.
The money will go towards protecting around 3,600 acres of critically important habitat, which includes Mastic Reserve, Salina Reserve, Colliers Wilderness Reserve, the Brac Parrot Reserve, and the Little Cayman Booby Pond Nature Reserve.
Among the business donors was legal and financial services firm Maples Group, which pledged $5,000.
“But what is even more remarkable is the large number of regular citizens who gave what they could, from $10 on up,” a National Trust spokesperson told Cayman Independent.
“Connor succeeded in inspiring the community to get involved, showing the support that exists at the grassroots level to protect our remaining natural areas and unique native biodiversity here in the Cayman Islands.
“Our social media pages were buzzing with huge numbers of encouraging supporters during his inspiring swim.
“Raising more than $13,000 in just a few weeks for nature conservation is a huge feat, and we’re very grateful.”
Childs said he was overwhelmed and delighted with the amount raised.
He said: “Going into this I would have been super excited if even $1 was donated so to see $13,000 donated is a high I’ll be riding for the rest of my life.
“I’m eternally grateful to the people that donated and supported this conservation journey that I was on.”
Childs said he wanted to say a special thanks to Maples Group for its donation, adding: “I do want to point out that before Maples donated, $7,000 had been raised that mostly came from regular, everyday people.
“This not only shows how much people want to see change in the Cayman Islands, but also what a community can do when they all come together for a united cause.”
Childs, who is an intern for the Department of Environment’s Marine Research Unit and a global ambassador for renewable energy charity Blue Planet Alliance, said he was hugely relieved to learn recently that the government had bought a piece of wilderness by Cayman Brac Lighthouse at threat of being built upon.
The 125 acres of land was up for sale for $6,950,000 and advertised as “providing immense potential for future development”.
The government has not yet confirmed if it will be protected permanently, something residents are campaigning for.
For now, Childs sees the purchase as a sign the new government is showing a different and far more promising direction to its predecessors.
“Development has skyrocketed in previous years, with no decline, so to see the government buy the land was nothing short of incredible,” he said.
“It goes to show where their priorities lie and I’m excited to see what else they do.”
He said if the land is permanently protected, it would not only secure the area for future generations of Caymanians to enjoy but also ensure the brown booby, which is native to the Cayman Islands, continues to nest on Cayman Brac.
