WITH thousands of people turning up to Shine their Light for Special Needs, the Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk was a resounding success with over 7,200 individuals registered for the race.

This represented a 30 per cent increase from last year’s figure. The event took place in downtown Kingston on Saturday, October 26.

“It was a truly heart-warming moment to see just how many people came out for the 5K,” noted Judine Hunter, Programme Manager for Special Needs at the Digicel Foundation. “The support was outstanding from corporate Jamaica, our partners, the media, and the participants. Our sponsors not only contributed to the event, but most of them signed up teams. Even our beneficiaries brought teams, NAZ Children’s Centre in Mobay, chartered a bus and brought a team of over 50 persons and Genesis Academy in Kingston had a team of 60. I want to thank each and everyone who came out on Saturday. It was your participation that made this event a success,” she continued.

Some of the corporate entities supporting the event included: GraceKennedy, Bank of Jamaica, CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers, Prime Asset Management, GTECH Jamaica, WHICON Limited, Sagicor, Institute of Jamaica, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, and the Urban Development Corporation. Just under 250 clubs registered for the 5K Walk/Run this year. Some of the sponsors included the Jamaica Observer, CVM, TVJ, IRIE/ZIP, KLAS, Catherine’s Peak, J Wray and Nephew, Sports Max, Hot 102, Marksman, KSAC and Island Grill.

Among the celebrities that supported the event were: Olympians Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Nesta Carter, Paralympian, Alphanso Cunningham, and dancehall artiste, Tifa.

Damion Bent and Danielle James came in first for the men’s and women’s run categories, respectively. Andre Smith was the first male walker to cross the finish line and Nyasha Heaven was the first female walker to cross the finish line. Jenard Williamson and Collene Morrison, both of the Jamaica Paralympics Association, came in

first in their respective wheelchair categories.

The 2013 Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk marked the second staging of the event, which was geared towards raising funds to support 11 special needs schools and organisations. These are: NAZ Children’s Centre, Genesis Academy, the STEP Centre, Mustard Seed Communities, Liberty Academy, the Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Association for the Blind, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, and the Jamaica Downs Syndrome Foundation (JDSF).

“The Digicel Foundation 5K Night Run/Walk would not have been a huge success without the exceptional support of all involved,” remarked Samantha Chantrelle, executive director of the Digicel Foundation. “It is your support that will help to build, improve and empower 11 special needs schools and organisations. We hope that with your continued backing, the Foundation will be able to extend our scope of work in the special needs sector and keep that light shining.”