Monthly Archives: October 2016

FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Organisers of the second staging of the Jamaica National Building Society (JN) Foundation Heroes in Action Run/Walk described yesterday’s staging of the event as a resounding success.

The Usain Bolt Foundation, which partnered in the inaugural staging of the event last year, was again on board this year.

“I understand, based on the numbers I have seen, that we have doubled the number of persons who have participated this year. We have now gone over 1,000 persons, that’s a good thing; it means that persons are finding the event very attractive,” Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National Building Society, told the Jamaica Observer.

Meanwhile, Bolt, the iconic sprinter, mirrored the banker’s comments.

“I feel good, many more people came out, which is a great thing because we are trying to get greater awareness, so I am looking forward to next year again to make it even bigger,” the legendary athlete commented.

“This year it is much bigger so it shows that we are going in the right direction, so hopefully next year it will be even bigger.”

He indicated his involvement in the event for the long haul.

“For me it is forever!” the fastest man on the planet declared.

Meanwhile, Jarrett gave kudos to the Port Authority of Jamaica, which facilitated the staging area of the event on the premises of the historic Falmouth Port, for their involvement again this year.

“I am really happy with the partnership with the Port Authority (of Jamaica) to make this possible. And I send greetings back to the board of directors, to the entire management team at the Port Authority, to open up this facility to the community to enable us to have this good event,” Jarrett said.

He hinted that the event, which featured an 8K run and a 4K run/walk this year, will see an additional feature next year.

“Of course this year we have changed it up a bit, we have 8K which is unusual and 4K. For next year we will have something different but more on that later,” he cited.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton gave the event the thumbs up, citing that among other things, it promoted health and wellness.

The winner of the male section of the 8K Run was Lenford Adams, while Ronique Williams and Lucien Graham finished second and third, respectively. In the women’s section, Ann-Marie Finnegan finished ahead of Ashelaun Linton and Chantel Cornwall.

Meanwhile, the 4K winners were Shawna-Kay Prince in the female category, and Jamario Daley for the males.

The proceeds from the event will go towards the Victim Support Division of Trelawny and additional funding to last year’s refurbishment project at the Granville Place of Safety for Girls.

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YEAR TWO of the Jamaica National (JN) and the Usain Bolt Foundation Heroes in Action 8K Run/Walk and 4K Fun Run has been given the thumbs up by JN’s general manager, Earl Jarrett.

The event, which brought together close to 2,000 participants in the picturesque, historical Georgian-styled town of Falmouth, more than doubled last year’s registration numbers, with a beaming Jarrett admitting that the charity races will be the recipient of international attention in 2017.

“I am very happy with what I have seen this year; the numbers have increased almost to double of last year and in any exam 100 percent is good,” said Jarrett.

“We definitely will be back next year with an international component to it, as we seek to make this event a bigger and indeed better one each time it’s held,” he added.

The 28-eight year-old Lenford Adams copped first prize and was named the overall winner of the event, after taking the staple event, the 8K Run, in a time of 30.31 minutes. The always present Ronique Williams took second place, crossing the finish line in 30.34, with third place going to Lucien Graham (40.36).

Ann-Marie Finegan took the top prize for the women in 39.21 minutes, as Ashelaun Linton took second in a time of 40.02. Seventeen-year-old Chantel Cornwall copped third in 40.36.

The 4K event, which criss-crossed the historic town, saw the William Knibb Memorial High School’s 14-year-old student, Shawna-Kay Prince, taking the crown. Denache Johnson of Melia Runners was second, with 11-year-old Marsha McKoy of Duncans All-Age third.

On the male side, the title went to 14-year-old Jamario Daley of JADA. Go-Run Running Club’s Andre Smith crossed the finish line in second and another pre-teen, 11-year-old Locordo Daley, was third, as various high schools used the event to sharpen their athletes’ strength and stamina ahead the upcoming track season.

Home town superhero, Usain Bolt, said his delight is with the cause to help children with various challenges. He was very demonstrative in pledging to support the event as long as it is held.

Bolt, the world’s fast man over the 100m and 200m, as well as sharing in multiple records with Jamaica’s 4x100m relay teams, obliged the crowd by signing autographs and taking selfies with his adoring fans.

He underlined his pleasure at being associated with the event on many levels, primarily because it means giving back to needy children and that it brings Falmouth to the public in a way not before seen.

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The Usain Bolt Foundation and the JN Foundation will be staging the second annual Heroes in Action Charity Run/Walk this Sunday.

Coinciding with the popular holiday weekend, the charity event, in its first renewal, will feature a 4K Fun Run and an 8K Run/Walk.

“This event will be an interesting addition to the activities taking place during the holiday period,” Saffrey Brown, general manager of JN Foundation, stated.

She pointed out that the event is another opportunity for citizens to demonstrate their commitment to nation building, as all the proceeds from the run/walk will go to the Victim Services Division of Trelawny and the Granville Place of Safety.

“We want to grow this charity run to become a must-do annual event over the Heroes Weekend,” Brown said. And she called on Jamaicans to demonstrate their civic pride, while having some good, clean fun.

The general manager also welcomed the partnership with the Usain Bolt Foundation which has become a seamless venture, as both Foundations have vested interest in the socio-economic development of Trelawny and the welfare of children.

“Usain Bolt is from Trelawny. He is familiar with the issues encountered by residents and their social needs in the parish, hence, this is one of the ways he is giving back to his birthplace,” Brown said.

She also stated that Jamaica National believes in “the power of rural regeneration”, therefore, many of its projects are directed to build rural communities by assisting and equipping them with the requisite resources to positively impact lives.

Since the launch of the run/walk in October 2015, the event has attracted the attention of schools and corporate groups, whose students and employees are willing to participate, and it has also garnered the support of leaders in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

INVESTING In JAMAICA

JN Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Jamaica National Building Society, continues to mobilise Jamaicans locally and overseas to participate in activities to influence sustainable development, by investing in the

welfare of communities and the most vulnerable groups in our country, particularly children.

The proceeds from the run/walk will assist the Victim Services Division of Trelawny to deliver adequate and effective social services for the recovery of children who have fallen prey to crime, as well as to enhance the physical environment of the Granville Place of Safety, through the establishment of a multipurpose centre for the girls’ holistic development

To participate, interested persons may go to the nearest JN location or visit http://www.jnbs.com/runwalk; or https://www.runningeventsja.com. Donations are also accepted via Isupportjamaica.com or JN account #2094208750. Deposits to the account can be made at any JN branch or MoneyShop across the country.

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Sprinting great Usain Bolt has once again thrown his full support behind the Jamaica National Building Society (JN) Foundation Heroes in Action Run/Walk, which is again set for Falmouth – the capital of his home parish, Trelawny – on Sunday, October 16, 2016.

Bolt, who, through the Usain Bolt Foundation, was a partner of the inaugural staging of the event in 2015, will once again demonstrate his support of an activity, which he believes is “a sustainable and important initiative that seeks to raise funds and support youth in various sectors of society”.

“I am a solid supporter of initiatives that benefit and empower the people of my hometown, and I am particularly pleased that this event has at its heart, causes that support organisations that work to protect our children and provide needed services in Trelawny,” he said.

This year, the event, which has been divided into a 4km Fun Run/Walk and an 8km Run, hopes to raise funds for the Victim Services Division of Trelawny and provide additional funds to last year’s refurbishment project at the Granville Place of Safety for Girls, which is also based in the parish.

Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, emphasised that the event formed part of the organisation’s focus on rural development.

“Our efforts on behalf of the Victim Services Division of Trelawny will ensure that children who are victims of crime will receive adequate social services to aid their recovery,” she noted. “Our continued efforts with the Granville Place of Safety will provide the wards of the facility with additional educational resources to further bolster their future potential beyond the home.”

Funds raised will enable the Victim Services Division to acquire materials to support play therapy and art therapy, as well as the design and delivery of group-therapy interventions, benefitting young people in the parish. The completion of a multi-purpose resource centre for wards at the Granville Place of Safety for Girls will also be supported.

HEART OF OUR NATION

“Our focus on helping children is not by accident as we recognise that our children, whether in rural or urban Jamaica, are the heart of our nation and our future,” Brown noted.

She also encouraged Jamaicans at home and abroad who are not able to participate in the run to make a donation via the ISupportJamaica.com crowdfunding website, where they have a chance to receive Puma shirts autographed by Usain Bolt when they make contributions to the cause.

The run is being organised with technical support from the team at Running Events Limited and will take runners on a course through the streets of the historic town of Falmouth.

The 8km is designed to target sprint enthusiasts with a strong desire for competition, while the 4k Fun Run will be geared at engaging families and individuals, with various challenge stations, along with a historical aspect to educate participants on Falmouth while en route.

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With just over two weeks to go before the second staging of the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation Heroes In Action Run/Walk, slated for Falmouth, Trelawny, on Monday, October 17, defending male and female champions Ryon Chambers and Karen Blagrove are both confident about retaining their titles.

Unlike last year’s staging, the athletes will not compete over a 5K distance as, this time around, the organisers have decided to provide a 4K and an 8K route.

Both champions will journey over the longer distance. When The Gleaner caught up with them yesterday, they were both extremely upbeat and confident of winning again despite going an extra 3 kilometres.

Expecting Fast Time

“I definitely will run the longer event as the 4K is for kids, and being an elite distance athlete, running the 8K is my ideal event,” said Chambers.

“This is one of the best routes I have competed on because it is very flat and I am expecting a really fast time,” added Chambers.

Veteran Blagrove has hardly missed a road race in Jamaica and, despite her age, she is looking forward once again to defending her title in style and her stay in that part of the island.

“I am eager to compete once again. At this moment, I am actually trying to book somewhere to stay as I will be using the opportunity for a vacation in Falmouth and, after the race, I will spend few days touring,” said Blagrove, who also stated that she prefers the extended distance as she is in race marathon form at the moment.

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