THIRTY-three-year-old Latoya Senior, a tetraplegic since age 14, forged a beautiful partnership with 20-year-old Denise Grant at the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run that saw the wheelchair entrant record her first ever 5K finish with a time of 59:56. Grant met Senior, who is confined to a wheelchair, for the first time on the morning of the event and was asked to escort her on the course which she agreed to without hesitation.

The partnership underlines the very mandate of the 17th staging of the run, which aims to raise funds for charities that support child health as well as cultivate meaningful relationships for positive causes. Alysia White, manager, promotions and public relations, Group Marketing at Sagicor, said “This is commendable and we welcome persons with special needs to participate, even if they have never competed in any paralympic sports.”

Senior, who is a resident at Cheshire Village, an extension of Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (formerly Mona Rehab), for years wanted to participate in the annual Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run. However, in an incident at age 14 she was shot in the side of the neck, which resulted in her becoming a tetraplegic, paralysed from the neck down. Senior had big dreams to become wealthy but this was quickly sidetracked. She was enrolled in physical and occupational therapy. “I was moved to Mona Rehab after eight days in Port Antonio Hospital. It was tough, but after a few years, I realised that there were persons in worse positions than me.

I thank God I’m alive,” said Senior. She was moved from the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre to her current home in Kingston in 2010, as a result of a shortage of beds. She credits the institution for its handson approach, which led to regaining the use of her arms. “I am grateful for the care I received and to my friends at Mona Rehab, they mean a lot to me,” she stated. Arrangements were put in place for Senior to attend the 17th staging of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run on Sunday, February 22. She recalls being excited as her stomach was filled with butterflies when asked to participate.

Grant also participated for the first time and was resolute to push Senior with every ounce of perseverance to the finish line. Senior received an Inaugural Wheelchair Participant award from her corporate team, where she has been employed since 2014 as a media monitor. Cheshire Village is an integrated community of 21 housing units. It houses both able-bodied and disabled ex-patients, with the idea that the able-bodied would assist the disabled when conducting regular household chores and wherever else necessary