MANAGING director of Running Events Limited Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis is urging Jamaicans to take part in road racing, as it not only has health benefits, but is also a great vehicle to raise funds for worthy causes.

“Through road racing we have raised millions for worthy causes over the years that we have done it,” he said.

“It is a vehicle that provides wellness, which alleviates the pressure on the national purse and the health sector, and also the cash that is raised from it has procured (medical) equipment, has given scholarships and filled the gaps where needy causes are concerned. The gap, is very large, but the fact is this is a positive step forward,” Francis added.

Francis, while speaking at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s headquarters in Kingston, encouraged patrons to get on board the second staging of the innovative LIME Foundation 6K Run/Walk, dubbed ‘Run For The Children’. Proceeds from the event will go toward a fund at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, which will assist parents of children who are not able to afford cancer treatment.

“If you can take a $1,000 or $2,000 or $10,000 and lend to a situation which can help to save a life, I would ask you kindly to do it,” he urged.

“I always have a saying that ‘nothing bad can come form doing good’. It is a very noble cause and I encourage people to come out and participate in the LIME 6K. You are procuring wellness for yourself, which is invaluable by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and running a 6K, and the funds that you contribute, all of it will go towards helping needy individuals and create a situation that there can be continued support for individuals who are less fortunate.

“Put yourself in a parent’s position who has a child who has cancer and has to amputate a limb, and to know that the care and the support that is needed will be significant. The fact is that if the care and the support is not there that child could die,” said Francis, who will be the event’s race director.

Having demonstrated superlative commitment to the road race circuit, especially those geared towards charity development, Francis explained that the event can do no wrong, and has made a significant impact on the lives of many.

“At some periods persons use it for background training. We have had boxers, track and field athletes footballers, cyclists, people who play tennis, badminton players and swimmers that use this platform to strengthen themselves for their respective sporting areas. Because running, or just the whole cardio training, provides the base for other sports,” Francis pointed out.

“So it provides that platform [and] I know the races that we do in September and October have a lot of schools who come to the races. They use it as background training and also some of these races have funds that they win that can help them with their programmes.

“I know schools that use the money to go to Penn Relays and finance their track and field programmes, so it’s a win-win. Anyway you look at it, it provides support for the participants, workers, recipients and corporate entities that associate themselves with these noble causes,” he added.

The LIME Foundation 6K Run/Walk is scheduled to take place on January 18, in Portmore, St Catherine at the Fort Clarence Beach at 6:30 am, and will be under the patronage of Lady Patricia Allen, the wife of the Governor General, Sir Patrick.

The contribution is $1,000 for adults and $200 for children.

The carnival will begin and end at the beach and will be followed by a family fun day, which will commence at 9:00 am and end at 2:00 pm. Entry fee will be $500 for adults and $200 for children.

Patrons who will be taking part in the run/walk will not be required to pay an entry fee to the fun day.