Jessica Ebanks already a winner ahead of marathon

Seaford Russell Jr. | Cayman Compass | 1 December 2023

Over 1,000 participants have been confirmed for the upcoming Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon – though, for some, victory does not mean crossing the finish line first.

Unlike most of the other participants, Jessica Ebanks has spent her life as a wheelchair user after being born with spina bifida – a neural tube defect which causes problems in the spinal cord and the spine.

Outside of her disabilities, Ebanks has faced many other challenges throughout her life, including the loss of close family members and witnessing her mother battle cancer.

She recalls a time, when she was younger with many ambitions, someone told her that she could never do the things she dreamt of doing. Ebanks, who seems to sport an ever-present smile, told the Compass that the words of that specific naysayer stuck with her, motivating her to fight for her dreams.

Defying the odds
 She went on to gain a master of business administration degree, before returning home and becoming the first Caymanian with disabilities to get certified in scuba diving.

Ebanks currently works as a facilitator at Inclusion Cayman and hopes one day to open a community centre in West Bay for kids who need additional guidance in life.

Continuing to defy the odds, she has entered the full marathon not only to honour loved ones but also to inspire those who are in similar situations as her.

“There are people that I do it in memory of,” she said. “My grandmother; my cousin, who was disabled as well – she couldn’t walk, talk, or do anything for herself – and I just think, if she had this opportunity, she would [have loved] to do it; and for my mom who fought cancer and survived.

“It’s also knowing that I am pushing myself beyond all barriers and also motivating and inspiring other people to do the same and that’s what fuels my passion.”

Once the starter’s gun goes off on the morning of Sunday, 3 Dec., it will mark the first time Ebanks has taken part in the Cayman marathon. However, it won’t be her first long-distance race.

In March of this year, Ebanks was invited by Shan Harriman, who has a daughter with disabilities, to take part in the Colour Me Purple 5K walk/run. Following that event, she went on to participate in the DG’s 5K Challenge, the Autism Awareness Event 5K Fun Run and Walk, a duathlon and the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon overseas – an event she said further fuelled her motivation.

“Overseas…was very, very loud – a thrill that I have never experienced,” she said, noting that the Marine Corps Marathon attracted nearly 30,000 entrants with 1,000 of them using Hoyt Running Chairs, which are specially designed for runners to push race partners who are disabled.

“It shows that I’m not the only one on this mission and that message will be getting out there more.”

Da Dynamic Duo

All of her races this year would not have been possible without her trainer and race partner Scott Ruby, who has pushed her along the roads in her Hoyt chairs.

“[Scott is] very instrumental,” Ebanks said. “If I didn’t have him I don’t know what I would be doing. He is a coach, he’s a friend and is someone that I have a good time with.”

Ebanks and Ruby, known as ‘Da Dynamic Duo’, have continuously trained along West Bay Road over the last several weeks.

“While we are running, on the Seven Mile stretch, you just see us talking to each other, trying to make things better for him, trying to make things better for me,” Ebanks said.

“Whether it’s the cushion, endurance when I’m handing him back his fuel, it’s a whole lot of strategic planning and having fun as well.”

And all that strategy will be put into play, come Sunday. The Compass also reached out to Ruby, but he said he preferred Ebanks to do the talking.

‘No limits’
Known as a ‘professional cheerleader’ for most of her life – rooting for family members involved in sports in the past – Ebanks will now have the favour returned as she takes on the full marathon where her supporters will line the race route.

“Knowing that I will be in front of my own people is another thrill in itself,” Ebanks said.

When asked how would she describe herself, she responded, “I’m a very strong Caymanian woman”. It’s a journey she encourages a special group of people to take, noting that combatting stigmas and raising awareness are key when it comes to helping others believe in themselves.

“There are no limits on inclusion,” she said. “I’m bettering my mental health, bettering myself, physically, mentally, emotionally, in all aspects, and challenging myself to push beyond my own limits and break the stereotype that there are limits on people with disabilities…and I think I’m achieving that.

“It’s just focusing on the bigger picture, doing it for people that might not want to do it. I’m just proving that if you have the right crowd, the right support, if you have God on your side and the right mindset, you can achieve anything.”

The public is asked to wear yellow on marathon day to support race participants with disabilities.

2023 Cayman Islands Marathon
Registrations are still rolling in for the 2023 Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon scheduled to take place on Sunday, 3 Dec., where organisers have already confirmed over 1,000 participants.

Organisers issued a press release stating that 65 full marathoners, 865 half marathon entrants and 86 relay teams had registered, with about 100 people expected to sign up the day before the race. The event will also welcome some 350 visitors to the island, which includes runners and their supporters.

Late registration for new sign-ups and packet pick-up for registered participants will take place at the Westin Resort (Galleon Ballroom) on Saturday, 2 Dec. between 9am and 5pm.

This year’s event will raise funds for the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society as well as other non-profit organisations Jasmine, Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Alex Panton Foundation, YMCA and Cayman Islands Red Cross.

The 2022 event raised almost US$30,000 and this year more than $24,000 has already been raised with the amount still rising.

Both full and half marathons will begin at 5am on the waterfront, next to the Hard Rock Café. Over 250 kids are registered for the MILO Kids Fun Run, which will start at 10:30am at the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue and ends at the Hard Rock Café. This event is free for students between the ages of 5 and 11 years old.

In addition, the Cayman Islands Marathon has partnered with Run Barbados to offer an all-expenses paid trip to Barbados for the top local male and female half-marathon champions to participate in the race weekend in that country, which takes place the week after the Cayman event. The winners’ packages will comprise roundtrip airfare for two to Barbados via the direct Cayman Airways flight, accommodations, ground transport, race registration, meals and activities.

A runner’s story
Alli Salaman will be travelling from Lafayette, Colorado, to run the half marathon. Back in December 2022, she broke her leg. She underwent surgery and had to have a lot of metal installed to repair the break. She wasn’t allowed to walk or put any weight on her leg for several months.

A friend of hers, who lives in the Cayman Islands, had been encouraging her throughout her recovery to visit here and participate in the race. She is looking forward to ‘dance-walking’ and, hopefully, doing some running too. She says she cannot think of a better way to celebrate a year of recovery.

Asking for patience
Organisers are asking for the public’s cooperation and patience during the race by keeping traffic along the race route to a minimum, and in particular those people who live along the road are being asked to secure their dogs in their yards and turn on their Christmas lights (if they have any) from 4am.

There will be police support and presence on the roads and a few road closures to facilitate the safety of participants. Other safety measures put in place include EMTs and an ambulance stationed at the start/finish line, Red Cross volunteers at various points along the course and a fully staffed and stocked medical tent sponsored by Health City Cayman Islands.