March 20, 2004 – For a group of four Rotary Club of St. Thomas members, 8 Tuff Miles would be a day at the beach. Instead, they're going 13 miles from the East End of St. John to Cruz Bay along East End and Centerline Roads to raise money for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Center at Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
The effort is called the Rotary Club of St. Thomas St. Johnathon Trek.
"We've done three and a half; we've got nine and a half to go," Marston Winkles said Saturday, as he and Marshall Bell, Kent Hardenbrook and Sonny Parnell put rubber to the road east of Coral Bay.
Although it was sprinkling, they said it was perfect for their walking and jogging. The overcast skies kept the temperature down.
Winkles, 48, said he grew up on the Isle of Wight in England, a small island that saw many fund-raisers like this one.
He said if he, Bell, 59, and Hardenbrook, 33, finish, they'll collect about $5,300 in pledges to go toward building the cancer center. Parnell, 61, said he came along as an "observer."
"I didn't know what I was getting into," he said, laughing.
Raising money for the Kimelman Cancer Center is the Rotary Club's Centennial Project. Rotary Clubs around the world are taking on similar projects to mark Rotary International's 100th anniversary. Club president Cynthia Jerry said that project must have a lasting and visible impact on the community.
Winkles, who is the club's service director, said the organization has pledged $100,000 to fund the healing garden, an area in the complex with shade trees, fountains and flowers, where cancer patients can relax.
He said the club has raised just over $45,000 toward the project.
He said additional fund-raisers are planned. They include a road rally in October; a "self-indulgence" raffle that includes stays at Little Dix Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda, Caneel Bay Resort in St. John and Cap Juluca in Anguilla; a $5,000 shopping spree at Cardow's; a cruise; and a spa day at Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
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