THE 12th renewal of the PanCaribbean/Sigma Corporate Run set for February 21 will focus on children with special needs, with the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre set to be the main beneficiary as the event seeks to raise $10 million for the institute.

In association with Sagicor Life, the National Health Fund and Reggae Marathon, PanCaribbean will stage Jamaica’s biggest road race, which caters to athletes of all types — walkers, runners and wheelchair-bound individuals.

The 5.6 kilometre or 3.5-mile event starts at Knutsford Boulevard and ends at Emancipation Park, New Kingston.

And with entries easily surpassing the 10,000 limit in recent years, PanCaribbean’s vice-president Tanya Miller is urging participants to register early to avoid being left out.

Registration for corporate groups closes on Febuary 5, while the closing date for non-corporate and individuals is Febuary 12.

According to Miller, the Golding Centre is one of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean and though they have made contributions in the past, they feel compelled to offer their assistance again during this time.

“We spoke to our team members at PanCaribbean and it came back that we should do something for children with special needs.

“We looked around and Sir John Golding is one of the few institutions in the Caribbean that caters to the needs of special children, so this year the run is about raising funds for that institution,” she said.

And despite the trying times, she expect another massive turnout, with hopes of reaching their intended target again.

“This year is a difficult year for a lot of Jamaicans, but the outpouring of love for our Haitian brothers have been phenomenal.

“PanCaribbean has donated funds for the Haitian relief, but Sigma will still be focussing on the needs of Jamaican children, and we want to meet our target for them,” she added.

Meanwhile, Rory Dixon (Senior Medical Officer) of the Sir John Golding Rehab Centre says the gesture will be more than welcome as they are desperately in need of vital equipment.

“We need a disabled bus for the children; not all buses can transport disabled children. The bus has to be equipped with a lift so that wheelchairs can board the bus,” he said.

“We also hope to build a bathroom changing facility that will be used for physiotherapy for the children,” he added.

Dixon said they also need things like standing frames, a device that will help the children stand correctly and strenghten their legs.

He promised that members of the institute will be out in their numbers on the 21st to also participate in the event.

“We’ll have wheelchair participants and members of staff… but the main thing is to reach the objective, and we hope to do that,” he said.

The race will start on Knutsford Boulevard and proceed along Trafalgar Road, Waterloo, West Kings House Road, Constant Spring Road, Suthermere Road, Parish Close, Hope Road, Winchester Road, Ruthven Road, Half-Way-Tree Road and end on Oxford Road.

This year a special feature will be added, with the introduction of the ‘my laps’ bib tag timing.

Race director Alfred Francis explained that each bib will have a microchip insert, which will relay timing information once a runner goes over the timing mats which are located at strategic points along the route.