SPORTS
Ottmar Weber rides for recovery
Ottmar Weber training for his round-the-island attempt.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Veteran cyclist and fitness enthusiast, 63-year-old Ottmar Weber, will put
himself to the test of an all-island ride around Grand Cayman on Sunday, 21
August, to raise funds for the National Recovery Fund and Grand Cayman’s
continuing efforts to rebuild following last year’s Hurricane Ivan.
Starting at 6:00 am from Sunshine Suites Hotel, Ottmar’s race is expected to
finish there at 11:00 am. General Manager of Sunshine Suites, Frank Givens,
has offered the proceeds from a special lunch menu that afternoon towards the
fundraising effort, thus making it possible for all of Ottmar’s friends to
come out and watch his arrival.
Ottmar is supported in this race fundraiser by members of the Kiwanis Club
of Grand Cayman.
Ottmar has been known to undertake such tests of his strength to raise
funds for worthy causes. He has single handedly raised more than $25,000 by
riding his bicycle for special causes, mostly during the Kiwanis Club’s
Bike-A-Thon, which has been an annual event for the past 23 years.
On his 60th birthday, he rode some 117 miles in six hours to raise funds
for the Friends of the Deaf. This year, in addition to the National Recovery
Fund, Ottmar’s ride around Grand Cayman will benefit the Cayman Islands
Natural Body Building Association. Ottmar is a member of the Association and
an active bodybuilder, who last year won the Caribbean Grand Prix in the over
60 age group.
“I am excited about devoting my energies to the recovery effort as so many
persons in our community have been doing,” Ottmar said. “There is still a long
way to go in terms of our community’s rebuilding and I want to use my passion
for cycling to do what I can to bring in donations to the National Recovery
Fund. I welcome the support of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman and everyone
who will be part of this effort.”
Since it was established last September in the wake of Hurricane Ivan, the
National Recovery Fund has repaired over 300 homes and is seeking to complete
another 300 in the next 12 months. The Fund has prioritized applicants who
were not insured and whose households have young children, elderly or infirm
residents.
“We at the Fund applaud Ottmar’s generous spirit and the support of the
members of the Kiwanis Club,” noted Dr. Mark Laskin, Executive Director of the
National Recovery Fund. “It is encouraging to see that so many persons are
volunteering their services and are continuing to contribute to the Fund in
various ways. Obviously, we welcome all contributions as every bit helps one
more family to return to suitable housing,” he added.
Persons wishing to donate to Ottmar’s race may mail a cheque, made out to
the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman, to PO Box 1263 GT. Further information is
available at www.kiwanis.ky
or by contacting Ruud van der Pluijm at 947-9956 or Arie Barendrecht at
946-5656.
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