Sunday, November 03, 2013
WITH thousands of people turning up to Shine their Light for Special
Needs, the Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk was a resounding success
with over 7,200 individuals registered for the race.
This represented a 30 per cent increase from last year's figure. The
event took place in downtown Kingston on Saturday, October 26.
"It was a truly heart-warming moment to see just how many people came
out for the 5K," noted Judine Hunter, Programme Manager for Special
Needs at the Digicel Foundation. "The support was outstanding from
corporate Jamaica, our partners, the media, and the participants. Our
sponsors not only contributed to the event, but most of them signed up
teams. Even our beneficiaries brought teams, NAZ Children's Centre in
Mobay, chartered a bus and brought a team of over 50 persons and Genesis
Academy in Kingston had a team of 60. I want to thank each and everyone
who came out on Saturday. It was your participation that made this
event a success," she continued.
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| WHEELING THROUGH THE 5K: Persons participating in the wheelchair category came out in their numbers to support Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk on Saturday, October 26 in downtown Kingston. |
Some of the corporate entities supporting the event included:
GraceKennedy, Bank of Jamaica, CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers, Prime
Asset Management, GTECH Jamaica, WHICON Limited, Sagicor, Institute of
Jamaica, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, and the Urban
Development Corporation. Just under 250 clubs registered for the 5K
Walk/Run this year. Some of the sponsors included the Jamaica Observer,
CVM, TVJ, IRIE/ZIP, KLAS, Catherine's Peak, J Wray and Nephew, Sports
Max, Hot 102, Marksman, KSAC and Island Grill.
Among the celebrities that supported the event were: Olympians
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Nesta Carter, Paralympian, Alphanso
Cunningham, and dancehall artiste, Tifa.
Damion Bent and Danielle James came in first for the men's and women's
run categories, respectively. Andre Smith was the first male walker to
cross the finish line and Nyasha Heaven was the first female walker to
cross the finish line. Jenard Williamson and Collene Morrison, both of
the Jamaica Paralympics Association, came in
First in their respective wheelchair categories.
The 2013 Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk marked the second staging
of the event, which was geared towards raising funds to support 11
special needs schools and organisations. These are: NAZ Children's
Centre, Genesis Academy, the STEP Centre, Mustard Seed Communities,
Liberty Academy, the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities,
Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica
Association for the Blind, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, and the
Jamaica Downs Syndrome Foundation (JDSF).
"The Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk would not have been a huge
success without the exceptional support of all involved," remarked
Samantha Chantrelle, executive director of the Digicel Foundation. "It
is your support that will help to build, improve and empower 11 special
needs schools and organisations. We hope that with your continued
backing, the Foundation will be able to extend our scope of work in the
special needs sector and keep that light shining."
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