Inaugural Welcome to Kingston 5K set for July 8

Jamaica Moves, an initiative by the Ministry of Health, has partnered with Running Events Jamaica to stage the inaugural Welcome to Kingston 5K.

Set to take place along the corridors of the Kingston waterfront on July 8, the 5K will conclude the five-race Jamaica Moves Corporate Challenge circuit.

The circuit, which kicked off in April, targets private- and public-sector companies through a friendly performance-based competition. The challenge, being done using the Running Events Jamaica calendar, encourages these companies to enter up to five 5K/10K race events.

During the launch of the Welcome to Kingston 5k, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton, in commenting on the success of the Jamaica Moves Campaign and the 2018 Corporate Challenge Circuit, said, "This national campaign, to a larger extent, delivers emotional appeal to our Jamaicans and is geared towards stimulating action and acceptance of what we really need to work towards. It has generated national recognition, and we have the responsibility as a ministry and as Jamaicans to make this campaign a staple and legacy as we continue to institutionalise the concept of health and wellness."

He continued, "The partnership with Running Events is the perfect synergy as they have cemented themselves as the premier race-management company. This year, we have 19 corporate companies who are leading the charge and demonstrating on a national level that the health of their employees is of utmost importance. Furthermore, they are realising that healthier employees actually increase their bottom line."

INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT

The Jamaica Moves Get Moving Corporate Challenge has become increasingly important in light of a 2011 study by the World Bank titled Public Policy and the Challenge of Chronic Non Communicable Diseases that estimated that an individual suffering from any NCD spends approximately one third of household per-capita expenditure on healthcare services and the purchase of pharmaceutical drugs.

Alfred 'Frano' Francis, managing director of Running Events Jamaica Ltd, said, "The 5K will feature the undiscovered beauty of downtown Kingston, coupled with the fastest 5K course available in the Corporate Challenge and an enthusiastic Running Events and Jamaica Moves team execution. The race will include runners and walkers, whose donations are $1,500 per person, and cyclists in teams of six, $20,000."

Proceeds from the Welcome to Kingston 5K will go towards the summer youth educational and art programmes at Liberty Hall and will provide blood pressure machines for clinics in the downtown Kingston area.

THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE

-  At the end of the Jamaica Moves Corporate 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 amount 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.

- Rainforest Seafoods, National Baking Company, Wisynco, Advanced Integrated Systems and FLOW round off the top five companies in the challenge after three races.

- The other companies in the circuit are the Ministry of Health, Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), Victoria Mutual Building Society, 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, Stewart's Automotive Group, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Derrimon Trading Company.

- Jamaica Moves is the country's coordinated national response to the increased incidences of NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers.

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