Jamaica’s Private and public sector come together in support of Special Needs through 5K Run/Walk
Kingston, Jamaica – Corporate Jamaica and the public sector is once again coming together and showing support for the special needs community through active participation and sponsorship of the third annual Digicel Foundation 5K Run/Walk.
Set for October 11 in Downtown Kingston, funds raised through this year’s event will be distributed through Digicel Foundation’s ‘Showcase Your SUPERabilities’ programme, which will provide scholarships to students with special needs. With the goal of landing 10,000 participants, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, Samantha Chantrelle is confident that with such an array of sponsors on board the Foundation is well on its way to achieving success.
She said, “Every year at this time I am always amazed and grateful to see the support from other corporate entities that not only sign on as sponsors, but are busy rallying their teams together, spreading the word about our 5K and more importantly building awareness about the special needs sector which goes a long way in getting assistance for those who truly need it.”
Confirmed sponsors of this year’s 5K Run/Walk include the Urban Development Centre, Chas E. Ramson, Irie FM, Jamaica Tourist Board, RJR Communications Group, Jamaica Producers, Jablum/True Brew, KLAS Sports Radio, Trend Media, Peak Bottling, CVM Television, Marksman Ltd, Sportsmax, Pepsi-Cola, Rainforest Seafood and Island Grill.
Programme Manager for Special Needs at Digicel Foundation, Judine Hunter, says this is just a portion of companies involved with the event. “As we speak, the 5K team is finalising the remaining sponsors who are eager to be on board for this cause. Our 5K Run/Walk has really set the standard as a large charity event of this kind and we are always aiming for bigger and better. The work that we do is for the many extraordinary Jamaicans who have special needs and to a larger extent, their families who continue to support them in every possible way,” she elaborated.
Persons with special needs as well as sponsors will be training together at Digicel’s headquarters in the upcoming weeks leading up to the event at a boot camp hosted by another sponsor, Express Fitness. This will take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday leading up to the October 11 event. Hunter said, “These are the interactions that I love seeing, having the special needs community out and mingling with others as they share this experience and spread awareness.”
Last year eleven special needs schools and associations were the recipient of proceeds totaling $7.4 million. This included: Early Stimulation Plus, Genesis Academy, the STEP Centre, Mustard Seed Communities, Liberty Academy, the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Association for the Blind, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, NAZ Children’s Centre and the Jamaica Down Syndrome Foundation.
Persons can register for the 5k Run/Walk online at www.runningeventsja.com or via the Digicel Foundation 5K mobile app by downloading it from the Google play store.
