ST, ANDREW, Jamaica – The fourth annual CB Group UWI 5K Run/Walk and second running of the Smart Eggs Kids K was launched on Wednesday, September 16 at the UWI-Usain Bolt Track under the patronage of Dr. the Honourable Douglas Orane and Mrs. Donette Chin-Loy Chang.
 
The 2015 edition of the charity race is being held for the benefit of the UWI Scholarship Fund which has assisted over 75 students since the race's inaugural staging in 2012. The CB Group UWI 5K continues to be the only event with a race dedicated solely to children with the running of the Smart Eggs Kids K.

This year the goal is to increase the number of registrants while raising $15 million to continue funding the scholarship initiative. The proceeds of the 2014 event saw the University awarding 25 scholarships valued at $8,500,000 and donated a Thermocycler valued at $1,400,000 to the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation.
Mr. Matthew Lyn, COO of Caribbean Broilers, the title sponsor of the event, is pleased with the efforts of last year's run and is looking forward to a bigger impact in 2015.
 
"The CB Group UWI 5K has grown in a short space of time into an event which not only impacts the University community but the entire country as these scholarship recipients will one day contribute significantly to the development of Jamaica in their respective fields."

Professor Archibald McDonald, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies Mona Campus lauded the initiative noting that the CB Group UWI 5K is the single largest fundraising event for the University's Scholarship Programme.

"Many of the students who receive the CB Group UWI 5K Scholarships are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher education.  The opportunity afforded them as a result of this event will impact not only their lives but generations to come". 

The CB Group UWI 5K is also a massive contributor to The University of the West Indies continued focus on sporting development. The scholarships funded through the event have helped to contribute to the gradual increase in quality athletes and athletic programmes coming out of the UWI. Dalton Myers, Head of Sports at the UWI Sports Department is looking forward to yet another successful staging.
 
"At a time when funding is very difficult to come by, the CB Group UWI 5K is an amazing alternative to traditional modes of programme funding. UWI, while renowned for and continuing a trend of academic excellence, has gradually improved in the sporting arena and the programmes, teams and athletes we have, partly due to the funding from the CB Group UWI 5K. It is truly a direct effort at youth development, sporting development and consequently national development," said Myers.
 
The CB Group UWI 5K and Smart Eggs Kids K, which both begin and end at the UWI Mona Bowl, is slated for Sunday, November 15 with the 5K run scheduled for 7:00 a.m. followed by the Kids K at 8:00 a.m. The funds raised will support the academic and sporting development of students through the University's Scholarship Fund.

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