BY RUDDY R ALLEN Observer staff reporter ruddy.allen@gmail.com Monday, February 22, 2016
The Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital and children with cancer across the island will benefit from over $43 million raised through this year’s Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run which took place yesterday.
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| Kirk Brown crosses the line first in the men’s category at the 18th staging of the Sagicor Sigma 5K Run/Walk in New Kingston yesterday. |
Ingrid Card, vice-president of Group Marketing at Sagicor, made the confirmation yesterday.
“Sagicor is truly grateful for the overwhelming support we received for the beneficiaries. 2016 is a record year; the largest amount raised in a single staging. We will now be able to purchase the mammography machine for the Cancer Society’s mobile unit to conduct breast cancer screenings in the most rural areas of Jamaica. The Black River Hospital will also get some crucial equipment needed for its Paediatric unit and we will be able to assist with life-saving equipment and supplies for children with cancer across the island.”
Dr Michelle Reece Mills, Paediatric Oncologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, said the funds raised through the charitable event will be far reaching for children with cancer. “The funds raised will definitely have a significant impact on the care of children with cancer in 2016. This will go a far way, allowing them to stay on treatment. Also, the use of CTs and MRIs will help us to make the administration of chemotherapy less painful with chemotherapy pumps and central IV lines.” Approximately 24,000 individuals registered in support of this year’s Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run charities — Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital’s Paediatric Unit and children with cancer across the island. The 5K Run, Walk and Wheelchair raised the record amount through donations and registration fees.
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| Karlene Blagrove (right), winner of the women’s Open run, collets her trophy from national 400m runner Novlene Williams-Mills during the presentation ceremony at the end of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run yesterday. |
Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run maintains its rank as the largest 5K road race in the Caribbean and is one of the largest charitable movements locally. Approximately 24,000 registrants amassed just under 300 corporate, non-corporate, tertiary, high and primary school teams and individuals who signed up to Walk, Run or Wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Karlene Blagrove and Kirk Brown were victorious in the female and male open run.
Blagrove, who was second in the event last year behind Juliett Dinnal, won the event in 23 minutes and 05 seconds ahead of Jozanne Harris in 23 minutes and 23 seconds and Janetta Robinson, who clocked 24 minutes and 22 seconds.
Blagrove said that she dedicated the victory to her daughter Samantha Kelly.
“This one is for my daughter as she told me that I shouldn’t come home without the title and I am going home with it. Overall I am happy with my run, however I was bit surprised when everyone was congratulating me on the victory as I thought I came second because a lady finished ahead of me but apparently she got disqualified,” Blagrove told the Jamaica Observer.
She said she is now targeting the Reggae Marathon which is scheduled for December.
“This was my best chance of winning as Juliett Dinnal who won this event last year was not competing so I backed myself to win. With the victory I got an entry to the Reggae Marathon and so that is where I am focusing on now,” she said.
Brown covered his distance in 17 minutes and 15 seconds to take the title. Shawn Pitter finished second in 17 minutes and 41 seconds and Kemar Leslie came third in 18 minutes and 26 seconds. more
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