Guardian Life 5K set to surpass targets

Annette Atkinson, senior manager for corporate affairs and communication at Guardian Life, said they have gone past the almost 6,000 participants who took part in last year's Guardian Life Keep It Alive Night Run and are on track to surpassing the more than $19.7 million collected for charity.

The event takes place this evening, starting on Lady Musgrave Road at 7 o'clock and registration is still open.

"We tell participants, if you can't run - walk or wheel. Make a donation or just register, it's for a worthy cause," Atkinson told The Gleaner.

Funds from the event will assist four hospitals - the University Hospital of the West Indies, Cornwall Regional, St Ann's Bay Regional and Mandeville Regional - with medical equipment. Service clubs and schools will get a 75 per cent return on their contribution to go towards their projects.

"The objective is to raise funds for the four hospitals to purchase well needed medical equipment. We ask hospitals to identify their needs and we try to fulfil their wishes," she said.

"In addition to the four major beneficiaries, United Way and all service clubs also benefit by registering teams. The service clubs will get back 75 per cent of what they register, schools can also benefit from that.. So if they register 100 persons, that will be a $100,000 and they will get back three-quarters of that to go towards a project," she explained.

Olympian Javon Francis is the male patron and former Miss Jamaica, Sara Lawrence, the female patron for the event. Both will be participating. After race entertainment will be provided by Agent Sasco.

"We want persons to come out and enjoy a healthy, wholesome event. We will also provide a lot of security and there will be sufficient hydration. We see this as a family event and we look forward to host the event and as it is everything is on track and on target," she said.

The Guardian Life Keep It Alive Night Run is in its fifth year in Kingston.