Kingston, Jamaica: Sagicor Group Jamaica, organisers of the annual Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, has set Sunday, February 16, 2014 as the date for its 16th staging.
Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run is the largest 5k road race in the Caribbean. The Run's mandate is to raise funds for charity.
Since 1999, over $118 million raised by the 5k road race has funded much needed equipment for several charities, including Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease, Sophie's Place & Mustard Seed Communities, Bustamante Hospital for Children, UHWI Sickle Cell Unit, Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre, UHWI Leukaemia C.A.R.E., National Blood Transfusion Service, UHWI Labour Ward, Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Renal Units of the Cornwall Regional, UHWI and Kingston Public Hospitals, paediatric wards for Spanish Town, May Pen, Victoria Jubilee, Sav-la-mar, Mandeville, and Cornwall Regional Hospitals, Jamaica Society for the Blind and Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Victoria Jubilee Hospital – Neo-Natal Care Unit, Chain of Hope Jamaica in support of the Cardiac Programme at Bustamante Hospital for Children, Jamaica National Children's Home and Best Care Lodge.
Richard O.Byles, President & CEO of Sagicor Life Jamaica, said of the Run, "Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run fosters fellowship and camaraderie amongst corporate Jamaica, and is one of the highlights of our year. It takes a lot of effort and team work to pull off a road race of this magnitude, but in the end, it gives our organising committee and team members great pride to make a positive contribution to the lives of our nation's children."
Donovan H. Perkins, President & CEO of Sagicor Investments, commented on the organizations chosen to benefit from the road race. "This year, our beneficiaries are the Sickle cell Unit at UWI with support for the Sickle Cell Trust in Mandeville, the Special Care Nursery at University Hospital and the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation – all these causes are in support of highly specialized needs that focus on children who tend to have longer-term medical treatment requirements."
Last year, 20,501 persons registered to walk, run or wheelchair – with 100% of proceeds raised donated to charity. As a result, $16,026,870 was allocated between the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Jamaica National Children's Home and the Best Care Lodge.