NATIONWIDE GIRLSRUNTT CHALLENGE HITS 21,700 MILES
A moment of sporting triumph is birthed.
254 women and girls across Trinidad and Tobago have collectively defied the juggernaut of the COVID-19 pandemic to hit an astonishing feat 21,700 miles in the GirlsRunTT virtual road race Challenge. The Challenge, one of the largest virtual races for women and girls during the pandemic, is a major feature of the Ministry of Sport and Community Development’s Pink Reign Campaign – an initiative geared toward inspiring greater female representation in sport and physical activity.
Since April of this year, women and girls across the nation were invited to register for the Ministry-sponsored challenge, administered by BafaSports. The Challenge comprised of seven virtual races themed after the magnificent seven buildings’ architectural ingenuity – with a cumulative milestone of 70 miles.
On Friday 22nd October, the Honourable Shamfa Cujdoe joined six esteemed women and girls for the Challenge’s Prize-giving Ceremony at the Ministry’s Head Office, Nicholas Tower, Port of Spain.
Minister Cudjoe spoke of the genesis of the Pink Reign Campaign, and underscored the importance of challenging our minds with new feats. She congratulated all 254 race participants for showing up and giving their best efforts – “The COVID 19 pandemic has tested our mental resilience, and the sheer interest in this challenge has proved our willingness to conquer. I extend tremendous pride and congratulatory sentiments to our winners and to all participants.” Minister Cudjoe also thanked the Lucess family for agreeing to have this challenge named in her honour – “Granny Lucess’ extraordinary story will reverberate across generations. She was an ageless dreamer. We are proud to carry her name and legacy forward with our GirlsRunTT Challenge.” As a gesture of gratitude to the Lucess family, Minister Cudjoe presented a special prize hamper to Ashakie Hagley and Amelia Lucess, granddaughter and daughter of Granny Lucess and also prizewinners of the event.
The following is a list of Challenge winners:
*First to hit 20 Miles- Michelle Bissoondial
*First to hit 70 Miles- Zaneesha Mohammed
*Eldest Participant- Norma Woods (86 Years of Age)
*Youngest to complete- Asia Clarke (13 years of age)
*Most Improved (tie) – Ashakie Hagley and Amelia Lucess
*Largest Team- +OAW Members:
Abiola Pierre- Holder-Munroe
Victoria Surajdeen
Chantel Le Maitre
Vania Paltoo
Uchechi Okezie
Emily Ramirez
Natalie O Brien
Adeola Walsh
Zaneesha Mohammed
*Most Engaged on social media- Varla Ross
Prizewinners were gifted with stunning hampers from sponsors Gatorade (VEMCO), Playtex (Shine Distributors), and Ocean Spray (Massy Distribution); all of whom were eager to support this national call for more physically active women and girls. The prize-giving ceremony also formally brought closure to an immensely successful virtual Pink Reign Campaign, which included a panel discussion series, conversations with women in sport, and sport demonstration videos – all led by women. The series can be viewed on MSCD’s YouTube channel, MSCDtv.
