With New Year’s resolutions to get healthy still in full force, the Off the Beaten Track 50k ultra-marathon scheduled on Sunday is both helping Cayman’s runners stay fit while also benefiting local community causes.

Half of the run’s proceeds will benefit Facing Africa – a charity dedicated to helping children in Nigeria and Ethiopia who suffer from the face-ravaging disease NOMA, while the remainder will benefit the local organisations Cayman’s ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) and the 
School of Fitness.

Cayman’s ARK, with the slogan of ‘Changing lives one life at a time’, supports people in crisis, demonstrates kindness through loving acts of service to those in need, and engages in a wide range of community activities.

The School of Fitness is an innovative programme in the public school system which supports the physical education curriculum in addition to expanding access to fitness opportunities in the Cayman Islands to the youth.

“We are delighted that Off The Beaten Track has the opportunity to benefit local causes - both the philanthropic activities of Cayman’s ARK, as well as the innovative School of Fitness programme designed to improve the health and fitness of our country’s youth,” said Ken Krys, Founder and CEO of KRyS Global and an ultra-distance racer himself.

“We hope that corporate sponsors and relay teams come on board to make a real difference for locally and internationally.”

The third annual Off The Beaten Track takes runners around some of Grand Cayman’s less familiar paths. The event, which grows in popularity every year, is a 50k ultra-marathon, incorporating beach, dyke roads and back streets. This year’s run is planned to be the most challenging yet with potential water crossings, bush trekking, and more.

Krys has competed in some of the world’s most difficult races, including the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, the Antarctic Ice Marathon, and the Amazon Jungle Run.

Having gained a reputation as a unique endurance and orientation test, the ultra-marathon is attracting notice and entrants from around the world and is open to individual participants, as well as relay teams of six.

Runners are encouraged to register online at www.caymanactive.com and to use the Off The Beaten Track Facebook page as a forum to stay up-to-date on race news, as well as find potential team mates.

Current sponsors besides KRyS Global are Tower Marketing, Conyers Dill and Pearman, Sunshine Suites Resort, Ritch & Conolly and Cayman Free Press.

Those interested in sponsoring should contact Lori Halldorson at KRyS Global on 815-8410, or visit the Off the Beaten Track for more information.