NASSAU, Bahamas, August 29, 2019 – The countdown has started for what is now widely accepted as one of The Best Marathon Experience In The World.
Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend, scheduled for January 18-19, 2020, is in its eleventh annual running of the marathon, half marathon, relay and its tenth running and partnership with the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure® 5K.
“Held on the idyllic island of the capital of The Bahamas, Nassau, which is immersed in history, natural charm, beauty, white-sand beaches, aquamarine waters, and hospitable and welcoming residents, Marathon Bahamas has become the pre-eminent endurance event of the country,” according to the event’s website. “The event features runners from 19 countries and 31 states and is supported by a large volunteer contingent from every walk of Bahamian life.”
Noting that the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure® exceeded the 2,000 mark in 2019 and is trending even higher, the website adds: “Sunshine Insurance, in its role as the lead sponsor and organizer for Marathon Bahamas, has fostered a strategic partnership between Marathon Bahamas and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the global leader of the breast cancer movement and the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists – a partnership that could significantly impact the health of Bahamians, especially in the areas of breast cancer and other women’s health issues.”
The Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure is an annual event not only to raise money for the beneficiaries, but also to “bring attention to the dreaded disease that affect so many of our Bahamian women. One hundred percent of the money raised by the Race for the Cure will remain in The Bahamas to fund breast cancer and women’s health programs.”
Registration for the 2020 event is now open at marathonbahamas.com. Komen Bahamas registration opens on October 1 at komenbahamas.org. In person registration, for both events, is available at Sunshine Insurances offices on East Shirley Street or Carmichael Road. Registration fees increase, on a gradual basis, as the races gets closer, so all interested participants are encouraged to register early. Beneficiaries for the events are: The Cancer Society of The Bahamas, The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group and the Cancer Society of The Bahamas Grand Bahama Chapter.
Marathon Bahamas is the brainchild of Sir Franklyn Wilson, one of The Bahamas’ pre-eminent business tycoons. In addition to being Chairman of Sunshine Holdings Limited (SHL), one of the oldest and largest conglomerates in The Bahamas, Sir Franklyn also sits as Chairman for Focol Holdings Ltd., distributor of Shell in The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos; Arawak Homes Ltd., a real estate development company; Sunshine Insurance (Agents & Brokers); Royal Star Assurance Ltd., one of the largest general insurers in The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands; Sunshine Finance Ltd.; and Jack’s Bay Developers Ltd., a substantial land developer at Eleuthera, Bahamas
President of Sunshine Insurance, Mr. Paul McWeeney, said he is “very excited about our upcoming Race Weekend.”
“With the registration of Marathon Bahamas on the Wanda Age Group World Rankings — the first ever global age group marathon ranking system — we are extremely excited about the future potential this event could have on the world Marathon circuit and, in particular, the economic benefits this ranking can bring to The Bahamas,” Mr. McWeeney said.
He added: “Essentially, this means that Marathon Bahamas is now a qualifying event of the ‘Abbot World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group Championships,’ which consists of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world; these races take place in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.
“This level of achievement also means that Marathon Bahamas event planning and execution will continue to be held to a world class standard. We are up to this challenge and look forward to another successful weekend of events and a positive destination experience for our many international participants.
“It is also gratifying to note that we recently renewed our association with “Susan G. Komen” for a further period of 3 years and encourage the public at large to continue to support the Susan G. Komen 5K event. The countdown continues to Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend, scheduled for January 18-19, 2020.”
