BUSINESSES in Clarendon have donated nearly $500,000 to the May Pen Hospital in that central Jamaica parish.

Lead by bauxite giant Jamalco, the companies, most of them home-grown, raised the funds via a lapathon and an aerobics marathon during the inaugural Alcoans in Motion (AIM) fitness fund-raiser held recently. Jamalco’s participation secured a grant of US$2500 from the Alcoa Foundation, while the other companies raised $250,000.c

The funds will be used to improve the services offered at the facility, and to provide security for specific sections of the hospital.

Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, Nadine Nunez-Howe thanked Jamalco and the communities for their support.

“We are very grateful for the partnership and on behalf of the 400 workers and the 6,000 patients that use the hospital annually, I want to say thanks,” she said.

Speaking at the handover, Jamalco MD Jerome Maxwell lauded the participants, saying: “We all need to exercise to keep us healthy, regardless of our lifestyle, age and physical ability.”

For his part, Corporate Services and Government Affairs manager Leo Lambert said the event sought to integrate wellness and volunteerism. “We should pay attention to everything we eat and endeavour to cultivate clean and pure thoughts,” he noted.

Guest speaker and chairman of the board of the Southern Regional Health, Authority Faye Bell also encouraged the participants to create a culture of healthy living.

“There is a need for all Jamaicans to take responsibility for their health. They need to avoid alcohol and smoking and promote healthy sexual values,” she said.

The event consisted of 10 laps of the 400m field and participants had the option to run or walk.

AIM is part of Alcoa’s company-wide initiative designed to get Alcoans worldwide involved in fitness activities while raising funds for charity.

The local companies that supported the event include Trevor Dunkley and Co, Jamaica tooth manufacturing, Cousins Construction, RBC Royal Bank, Courts May Pen, Jamaica Bags Limited, Mitchell Elliott, JPSCo, Maxie’s Department Store, Veolia Environmental Services, Solid Rock Construction, Quasar, FC Reynolds, Michael Ming Supermarket, Caribbean Broilers, Nestle Jamaica Ltd, Caribbean Broilers, and Moby’s Record.