THE Caribbean Broilers (CB) Group has invested $3.2 million in the fourth staging of the University of the West Indies (UWI) 5K Run/Walk, which will incorporate the second running of the Smart Egg Kids K as it prolongs its drive for student development.

The 2015 edition of the event is scheduled to take place on November 15, and will support the academic and sporting development of students through the university’s scholarship fund. The details were revealed at the event’s launch which took place at the Usain Bolt Track at UWI yesterday.

Since its inaugural staging in 2012, the event has aided over 75 students and continues to be the only fair with a race dedicated solely to children with the running of the Smart Eggs Kids K. Both events are scheduled to begin and end at the UWI Mona Bowl, with the 5K starting at 7:00 am, and the Kids 1K event at 8:00 am.

The Kids K is specially designed for children 14 and under, and is scheduled to follow the 5K to ensure parents and friends can join in cheering on the younger generation as they race the circumference of the combination of fields at the Bowl.

This year organisers are optimistic about an increase in participation, as they seek to raise $15 million to continue funding the scholarship initiative. Last year’s proceeds saw the university awarding scholarships amounting to $8.5 million, while donating a thermocycler to the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation, which is valued at $1.4 million.

Matthew Lyn, chief operating officer of Caribbean Broilers, expressed pleasure at what has been accomplished so far, but believes a lot more needs to be done to assist the university and, by extension, the future generation.

“It is that national pride that we have; if you saw all the scholarship awardees here — they are the future of Jamaica. It is a matter of understanding where we are as a country (and) where we need to go, and education is a lot more important than a lot of other things,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“We signed on originally for the first one as a three-year commitment, and we have also signed off on another three-year commitment. What we are looking for is absolute success here… we are proud of what we have done, but we are not satisfied and we will be happy when we can double or even quadruple the number of scholarships and students who are benefiting from this event,” he added.

Meanwhile, race director Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, who has led from the front in advocacy through road races for healthier lifestyle practices in Jamaica, also made a plea.

“At Running Events we are very passionate about events that change lives, so I encourage the preparation. These kids are highly blessed to have been chosen as recipients of the scholarships, and ‘Every mickle make a muckle’, so let us come together to make this work for our youngsters,” he urged.

This year’s staging of the CB Group UWI 5K Run/Walk will be under the patronage of Douglas Orane and Donette Chin-Loy Chang.