The eighth staging of the GraceKennedy Education 5K Walk/Run is scheduled for this weekend in downtown Kingston. The event gets underway on Sunday, July 10, at a new start time of 6:15 a.m.
Warm-up exercises begin at 5:45 a.m. in the tent village located at the corner of Hanover and Port Royal streets (entrance on Hanover Street).
Cycling has been added to the usual walking, running and riding in a wheelchair, and proceeds from the run will assist some 500 students - beneficiaries of educational programmes implemented by the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation. These students from under-resourced communities will be able to pursue their educational goals at secondary and tertiary institutions.
"Sunday, July 10 is a day to make a difference. It's the day we come together to ride, run and walk for the children who are beneficiaries of educational programmes implemented by the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation" said patron of the run and GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby. "It's a day that our efforts can change their lives, forever," Wehby added.
Registration for the run is $1,200 per person, or $1,800 with breakfast included. Groups of 50 participants will pay $1,000 per person without breakfast, and $1,600 with breakfast. There is also a 10 per cent discount for anyone who registers at physical locations, if they take a copy of that day's Gleaner to the point of payment. Cycling participants will pay J$20,000 per team.
The five-kilometre (3.1-mile), road race starts at the corner of Port Royal Street and George's Lane, then on to Duke Street, Ocean Boulevard, Port Royal Street, Water Lane, Pechon Street, Harbour Street, King Street, Barry Street, Church Street, back on to Harbour Street, across lower South Camp Road to the Norman Manley Boulevard roundabout, Port Royal Street and finishing at the Hanover Street intersection.
Parking will be provided in several parking lots, including the Bank of Jamaica car park, Scotiabank (eastern lot only) and GraceKennedy Financial Centre. All roads leading to and from the race route will close at 6 a.m. and reopen at 8 a.m.
Sponsors/contributors include the RJR Communications Group, The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited, Digicel Group, Grace Foods and Services Company, Grace Food Processors Canning Division, Grace Foods UK, NCU Media, GraceKennedy Money Services, GK General Insurance Company, First Global Bank Limited, Toyota Jamaica Ltd, Sun Bloc. Running Events, Cycle City, PSOJ, The Lab, Creative Media & Events and the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation.
For registration and other information, visit www.gracekennedy.com [2]. or www.runningeventsja.com [3] or call 932-3335 or 932-3300.