WILLIAMSFIELD in Manchester is the place to be today at 2:00 pm to participate in the popular High Mountain Coffee Road Race.

After 32 years it is still going strong.

National and international runners and walkers are gearing up for a chance to celebrate this exciting and longest running road race in Jamaica.

Thanks to Lucozade and their new owners, LR Suntory, for putting up $750,000 to make the event a reality.

Two-time 10K winner Andrew Brodeur of the famous US Shore Athletics Club (Shore AC) has signalled his intent to defend his title. Though he describes the High Mountain Coffee Road Race as “the most challenging 10K he’s ever run and one that pushed him physically and tactically to his limit”, he is not deterred and is prepared mentally and physically for the challenge.

Danielle Tauro of the USA never got a chance to defend her 2012 10K title due to an injury she suffered leading up to the 2013 event, and will be in the island for the competition and is looking forward to taking back the title.

For the third year, organisers will be giving the proceeds from the 5K Walk to the Mandeville Regional Hospital Renal Unit to purchase the much-needed dialysis equipment and supplies. For the first time the general public will be able to donate to this worthy cause through the High Mountain Coffee Road Race Wellness Fund Account # 644311 at the Bank of Nova Scotia, Mandeville Branch.

Participants for the event had the convenience of registering online through Paypal, with entry fee for the 10K Run, 5K Run and 5K Walk being $1,000 for adults, while children remain free.

The organisers were pushing the 5K Walk/Run Team Challenge component as one way for companies located in central Jamaica to get involved in raising awareness of kidney disease while contributing to this most worthy cause in a fun way.

Sponsors for the High Mountain Coffee Road Race include Lucozade Sports, Power Services Company Ltd, The Jamaica Observer, CVM TV, Power 106FM, Irie FM, Jamaica Drip Irrigation, Mitchell Elliott & Associates, KLAS Sports Radio, Holsum, JP Foods, Barita Investments, Manchester Coop Credit Union, Jack Sprat, Fence Masters, The Mandeville Hotel, Bullhead Mountain Spring Water, Sun Island Ltd, Happy Ice, Sanco’s Trucking, 20Twenty Promotions & Events.