TEN YEARS OF WALKING, MORE YEARS OF HEALTHY LIVING

On Sunday April 22, 2018, a sea of over 4,500 people clad in heather orange t-shirts and contrasting white caps took to the streets for the 10th Anniversary of the Pump it Up! Family Fun Walk, a spectacular event put on by Co-op Bank as the main feature of its Healthier Lifestyles Program – proof that Pump it Up! is indeed a household name.

The walk began at 4:00 p.m. after a warm up session put on by the Body Image Health Club and a countdown with lots of fanfare and confetti, spurring on the participants as they left the Morne Rouge playing field on their way to the National Cricket Stadium. The challenge route was used again this year, diverting up Lowther’s Lane, down Marrast Hill, through River Road, and onto the National Cricket Stadium.

In 2017 for the first time, Co-op Bank announced its collaboration with several corporate citizens in order to pool resources for the benefit one major sustainable initiative. This year, Antillean Group was welcomed on board as the fourth Benefactor, joining Jonas Browne & Hubbard (G’da) Ltd, FLOW and Guardian General Insurance (OECS) Limited.

In his remarks to the participants during the closing ceremony, Managing Director of Co-op Bank, Mr. Richard Duncan stated that over the past ten years they have been instrumental in the support of charitable causes: “YOU contributed to the Grenada Heart Foundation in 2009; the Grenada Diabetes Association in 2010, the Grenada Kidney Foundation in 2011, the Sickle Cell Association of Grenada in 2012, the Grenada Cancer Society in 2013, the Pink Ribbon Society in 2014, the Lupus Foundation of Grenada in 2015. In 2016 we took a different approach. We adopted the Carlton Home Project and since then we have contributed to this cause. As such, the beneficiary for this year and going forward, up to the year 2021 will be the Carlton Home.”

Representatives from Antillean Group, FLOW and Hubbard’s expressed their enthusiasm about being a part of a cause which has the potential to impact the lives of Grenadians, and reconfirmed their commitment for the duration of the project.

This year, the contributions of the Benefactors totaled a significant $55,000.00 which has been placed in a Trust Fund created for the initiative. As is customary, Co-op Bank contributes $1.00 per mile for each registered participant: 668 participants in Carriacou resulting in a $2,500.00 contribution; and 4,927 participants in Grenada – 4,762 on the regular route and 165 on the challenge route – resulting in a contribution of $19,500.00.

The total amount raised since 2016 including Benefactor contributions now stands at $155,353.64. At the end of the five-year period, the Bank hopes to have realized its goal of $500,000.00 toward the re-establishment of the Carlton Home.

Deputy Director of Hospital Services, Ms. Joanna Humphrey who accepted the cheque on behalf of the Ministry of Health highlighted the statistics of substance abuse, specifically alcohol abuse in Grenada, and expressed the appreciation of the Ministry of Health for this initiative.

Acting Marketing Officer of Co-op Bank, Ms. Samica Roberts, said that “The Bank is proud to have achieved the milestone of its tenth annual event, and is pleased to see that corporate Grenada is supporting this most worthy initiative with the addition of Antillean Group as the newest benefactor. We wish to thank all stakeholders and participants for another successful event, and anticipate their continued support in the coming years.”

Prizes were awarded for a number of categories including largest registered family, workplace, community, church and school. To commemorate the 10th annual walk, the 10 youngest and 10 most senior registrants were recognized. At the end of the prize giving ceremony, participants were entertained with the scintillating sounds of one of Grenada’s most popular live bands – SOLID.

The Bank wishes to commend all participants for their stance on healthy living and for their support toward the re-establishment of the Carlton Home!