After raising a lofty $25 million last year, Sagicor Group Jamaica has set out to double that target for this year’s 18th staging of the Sigma Corporate Run themed ‘Run for the fun, donate for the cause’.

The event was launched at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

This year the charity event, which is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, will direct the attention to tackling cancer with the bulk of the sum aimed at benefitting the Jamaica Cancer Society.

The other beneficiaries are children with cancer across the island and the Black River Hospital Paediatric Unit.

Breast cancer survivor and track and field star Novlene Williams-Mills, sprinter Asafa Powell, along with Jamaican-born Hollywood actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, will be the patrons for this year’s staging of the annual 5.5 kilometre run.

Donovan Perkins, president of Sagicor Bank, pointed out that his organisation is proud and committed to continue its support of worthy causes with this trendsetting event.

“It is something that we are proud of; I think this year we have great patrons (and) there is a lot of energy as always around the Sigma Run. Corporate Jamaica is always supporting it and we expect them to support it again in greater numbers,” he told the

Jamaica Observer.

He added: “I have been very deeply involved in the Sigma Run (and) I think what makes me most proud about it is the fact that we see Sigma as a pebble that really started a ripple of good throughout society.

“There are a lot of other runs that have come up and they are supporting great causes like the Sigma Run and the other runs going out every year.”

Perkins urged Jamaicans to join the fight against cancer and support the run which amassed over $166 million since 1999, through the efforts of big corporate companies, small businesses, individuals and specially invited patrons.

“I think the cause is also an emotional one. When I saw those two kids up there, one a survivor, one is still fighting, it is indeed a great cause. Cancer has touched every single family in Jamaica and I think as long as we have good causes like this, the runners will come to support and I think people will contribute because everybody knows somebody who has cancer and we are seeing more and more that with resources and research it can be beaten,” he explained.

Last year a record 24,000 individuals participated and the organisers are anticipating a turnout of 25,000 participants coupled with other sources to achieve the $50-million target.

“We are reaching out to more sponsors and they have talked about some other ways of raising funds; but I think it is always good to set a lofty target,” Perkins noted.

“The most important thing though is to ensure that we raise funds to support the hospitals in their drive to keep kids free from cancer as well as other survivors. I mean when you look at Novlene, a cancer survivor who is a world champion, that is just another story of the reason why we need to give everybody a chance so that they too can fulfil their potential,” he continued.

The Sagicor Sigma Run is scheduled for February 21 at 7:30 am, starting at the Sagicor headquarters on Knutsford Boulevard. Registration has already commenced with a fee of $1,100 and will close on February 5.