Teams of runners and walkers will participate in a cross-island relay at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26, in the name of the Virgin Islands’ many homeless and mentally ill. In this fourth annual collaboration between Ten Thousand Helpers of St. Croix and The Virgin Islands Pace Runners, the Run for Respect will start at Fort Christianvaern in Christiansted and end at Fort Frederik in Frederiksted via Queen Mary Highway. The event will be a fundraiser for Ten Thousand Helpers, which is the Frederiksted organization that houses homeless men and raises awareness around mental health in the islands.
According to Judy Bain, program director of Ten Thousand Helpers, “Winning the class action law suit against the government of the Virgin Islands, represented by the Department of Health, has been huge for us. We have succeeded in pressing our case that the government has failed to provide adequate treatment facilities for persons with mental illness in our community.
Ten Thousand Helpers of St. Croix now asks the public to support its efforts in urging government to provide staff and facilities to ensure the recovery of persons with mental illness. We want everyone possible to turn out for this event — to run, to walk or to volunteer.”
For the fundraising relay, each team will consist of four people, each covering four miles. This year, the run will also include walkers. Teams may be all males, all females, males and females, organizations, groups, etc. Awards will be made to the top finishing teams.
For more information or an entry form, logon to: http://www.virginislandspace.org or call: Ten Thousand Helpers at 719-2828 or V.I. Pace Runners at 643-2557.
