THE Jamaica Reach to Recovery, a non-profit group affiliated with the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), will stage its 13th 5K Run/Walk in the vicinity of Stadium East in Kingston on Saturday, October 26, starting at 6:30 am.

This year the target is to raise $3 million to help persons with breast cancer access the treatment and other medical interventions necessary for their survival.

“Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. When this happens, families are impacted in more ways than people tend to understand,” said Carolind Graham, chairperson of Jamaica Reach to Recovery.

“In many instances, these women are the breadwinners in the family, and need help meeting the costs of battling cancer, ” she explained. “In addition to surgery, they may also need help for follow-up treatments, which can be quite expensive.”

Graham, who herself is a breast cancer survivor, explained that the proceeds from this year’s 5K Run/Walk will be used to assist breast cancer survivors to access therapy treatments and to purchase medications.

Although awards will be presented in a variety of categories, the 5K Run/Walk is less of a competitive event and more of a family event, which Jamaica Reach to Recovery views as a means of promoting awareness of breast cancer initiatives and encouraging healthy habits.

Warm-up for the Run/Walk will commence at 6:30 am at Stadium East, with the race beginning at 7:00 am. Participants will walk from Stadium East to Mountain View Avenue along Stanton Terrace to Fairview Avenue onto Lady Musgrave, to Old Hope Road. Then they will loop back to Stadium East, for the presentation of trophies and medals to the first, second and third-place winners in each group and event category.