Battle for the top - Rainforest Seafoods and AIS lead Jamaica Moves Corporate Challenge

Seventeen corporate companies lined up at the start line on Sunday, April 29, to mark the start of the Jamaica Moves Corporate Challenge Circuit II.

The circuit, which kicked off with Everyone's A Winner/Running Events 5K/10K, saw more than 700 employees partici-pating. At the end of the first race, Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) and Rainforest Seafoods pulled ahead to tie for first place with a total of 139 points.

The challenge being done using the Running Events calendar encourages companies to enter up to five 5K/10K races from April to July 2018. The other organisations in the circuit are the Ministry of Health, Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), National Baking Company, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Wisynco, National Health Fund, Jamaica Broilers, Sagicor Group, Jamaica Private Power Company, Jamaica Police Co-op Credit Union Limited, Myers, Fletcher and Gordon, Jamaica Vacations Company, CB Group, Stewarts Automotive Group, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, FLOW, and Derrimon Trading Company.

Speaking on their experience in the challenge last year and thus far, chief operating officer of Advanced Integrated Systems, Stacey Halsall Peart, shared, "Wellness has always been an important part of our work culture. I find that when staff is physically active and healthy, they perform better, are happier and there is a lot less absenteeism. We have always supported road races and, in fact, staff members who do at least six for the year will get an all-expenses-paid weekend to Reggae Marathon in December."

WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY

As the country's main coordinated national response to the increased incidences of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, stroke and hypertension, the Jamaica Moves Campaign has also impacted the participating companies.

"Jamaica Moves and what it stands for is in line with our wellness philosophy, as we have really seen where it has increased the motivation among staff to participate in the various races. When Circuit II came around, we did not hesitate, and we hope that somehow our participation will encourage other companies to focus more on the health and wellness of their staff members," Peart continued.

At the end of the challenge, companies and staff with the most points will be awarded. The awards include Company Spirit, Male and Female Champion. Organisation performance will be calculated based on the number of points their members have accumulated.

The organisation that has accumulated the most points will be declared the Circuit II Jamaica Moves Get Moving Corporate Challenge Champion.

National Baking Company, Wisynco and Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ) round off the top five companies in the challenge so far. The remaining races in the circuit include Tru-Juice Cares 5K - June 3; and Everyone's A Winner/Best Dressed Chicken 5K - June 17; and a new 5K event in the series on July 8.

Through education, engagement and the building of supportive environments, the Jamaica Moves programme hopes to reduce NCDs by 25 per cent by the year 2025.