The group’s mission is as bold as the terrain they’ll face: complete a half marathon, a 12-kilometre rainforest trek, a 10-kilometre sea kayak, and a punishing hike up Gros Piton. Their goal? Raise £100,000 to purchase lifesaving neonatal equipment for the hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
Hosted by the Sandals Foundation, the 2025 Island Challenge (October 17–20) brings the power of tourism, philanthropy, and community together in a campaign that could transform care for Saint Lucia’s most fragile patients, premature and critically ill newborns.
According to the World Health Organization, the first 28 days of a newborn’s life are the most perilous, with complications from premature birth and infection posing the highest risks. Equipment such as a neonatal ventilator, infant warmer, incubator, infusion pump, and jaundice meter can mean the difference between life and death.
“Each piece of equipment pledged to the SCBU will significantly improve the quality of care we are able to provide for families in their most vulnerable time,” said Dr. Lashorn Christian, Head of the Paediatric Department at MHMC. “The ventilator, in particular, is a gold standard for neonatal care. It supports the survival and recovery of babies who are premature or have breathing difficulties.”
Dr. Christian added that the infusion pump and jaundice meter are equally vital, “They allow us to deliver precise fluids and medication, and to monitor bilirubin levels. Untreated jaundice can lead to serious neurological damage, including cerebral palsy and deafness.”
For participant Tiger Whiteley, the cause strikes a deeply personal chord. “I lost my little brother when he was born at 23 weeks,” he shared during a visit to the hospital’s neonatal ward. “Seeing a 23-week baby in the unit today brought everything back. It’s emotional, but it’s also motivating, I’m proud to support families going through what mine went through.”
Whiteley admitted that while he comes from a fitness background, this will be his first half marathon. “The heat and terrain will be a challenge,” he said, “but the experience at the hospital will push me through.”
Now in its third year, the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge continues to expand its reach across the Caribbean. In 2023, funds supported the Paediatric Unit at Antigua’s Mount St. John’s Medical Centre, followed by the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024.
Mrs. Tessa Inglis, Acting Chief Executive Officer of MHMC, expressed gratitude for the partnership: “The generosity of the Sandals Foundation and its partners will make a tangible difference in the care we provide to newborns. These additions will enhance our ability to deliver timely, high-quality care to our most vulnerable patients.”
Karen Zacca, Director of Operations at the Sandals Foundation, emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative: “This Challenge is a worldwide community effort. From donors across the globe to local and international partners covering critical operational costs, the outpouring of support has been extraordinary.”
Major international partners include British Airways, TripAdvisor, Air Canada Vacations, and Hearst, joined by local supporters such as the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, SLHTA, Island Routes, CPJ Saint Lucia, and Heineken, all uniting to power the Challenge’s life-saving mission.
As the runners, trekkers, and kayakers set off, their journey represents more than a test of endurance, it’s a race to save lives.