Magic Mile To Go From ‘Strength To Strength’
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Aaron Adderley, the president of Skyport, sponsors of the Skyport Magic Mile, envisages the annual community race going from “strength to strength” in the coming years.
Skyport came on board as the new lead sponsor of the popular junior race, formerly the Telford Electric Magic Mile, in 2019, ensuring the preservation of the event, which takes place at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Saturday [March 4].
Mr Adderley remembers encountering the Magic Mile several years ago while driving past the National Sports Centre and being stunned by a cacophony of noise and a sea of people.
A look at last year’s Skyport Magic Mile event
“I remember driving past the National Stadium and hearing all this noise,” Mr Adderley told Bernews. “I was like, ‘What’s going on up there?’
“There were hundreds and hundreds of people there. I found out it was the Telford Electric Magic Mile, which I hadn’t heard of before that moment.
“We got word that Telford Electric was not in a position to renew its sponsorship, and I thought, ‘You know what, this is a fantastic opportunity for Skyport to jump in.’
“This felt like the perfect sporting event for us. We met up with the guys from Bermuda Pacers Track Club [the race organisers] and said, ‘Listen, we want to make this our event, and we’re going to provide whatever support you need and commit ourselves to make it bigger and better every year. We’re committed to taking it to new heights.
“We’ve brought on some new sponsors, our business partners at the airport, Security Associates, and the Bermuda Tourism Authority. We’re looking to expand the list of corporate participants in 2024.”
Pacers, who launched the event in 1995, are hoping to set a new entry record on Saturday and eclipse the previous best number of 1,008 participants.
“To break 1,000 participants would be a significant accomplishment because when the event set that marker, it did so with a much larger population,” added Mr Adderley, who is excited about new additions to this year’s event, such as the Kids Fun Zone.
“There were many more students in the public and private schools. It just means we need to convert a greater percentage of a smaller audience [to participating in the event].”
Mr Adderley said Skyport is committed to investing in the island’s youth, with the corporation pledging to inject $3 million into sports, science and the performing arts over the next 20 years.
“We take our commitment to the community seriously,” he added. “As a corporation, we feel we have a responsibility to give back and what better way to give back than highlighting Bermuda’s young people.”
