Residents across Antigua and Barbuda are being called to pull on their favorite athletic shoes and join a community-focused fundraising event next year that will support a critical shelter for young girls. Organized by The Salvation Army, the 5-mile Charity Run/Walk is scheduled to kick off sharp at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, starting at Ebenezer’s South Mall and following a picturesque coastal route all the way to Turners Beach.
Organizers have opened registration to every segment of the community, welcoming individual participants, entire families, corporate teams, student groups from local schools, church congregations, neighborhood associations, and regular fitness clubs. Beyond raising critical funds, the event is designed to be a joyful morning of physical activity, connection with neighbors, and collective community pride, bringing people together around a shared mission of supporting vulnerable youth.
All proceeds from the event will directly benefit The Salvation Army’s Sunshine Home for Girls (SHFG), a long-standing facility that provides a secure, stable, and caring living environment for girls aged 9 to 18 who require support and safe housing.
Major Violet Ezeh, representing The Salvation Army, emphasized the deep impact of every participant’s involvement in the event. “Every step taken during this event is a step toward changing a young life,” Ezeh said. “We are inviting the entire nation to come together in support of these remarkable young women and to demonstrate the compassion and generosity for which Antigua and Barbuda is known.”
To ensure the facility gains the maximum possible benefit from the fundraiser, event leaders are actively pursuing corporate sponsorships to cover all logistical and operational costs of the day. This strategic move guarantees that nearly all money collected through participant registration fees and direct public donations will go straight toward covering the daily needs of the girls at the home and funding the facility’s ongoing support and development programs.
Registration for the 2026 Charity Run/Walk is set at $50 per participant. Organizers stress that even community members who do not wish to take part in the 5-mile route can still contribute meaningfully, either through making a direct donation or spreading the word to encourage others to sign up.
In closing, event organizers noted that collective small acts of participation and generosity can add up to life-changing support for the young residents of Sunshine Home for Girls: “Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the young women of the Sunshine Home for Girls, one step at a time.”