Four of Jamaica’s top track athletes have donated autographed sportswear to the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run in an effort to help raise funds to fight against cancer.

With race day set for February 21, Sagicor has left no stone unturned as it tries to reach its $50-million target. And, adding autographed sportswear that have actually been worn by the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt; World and Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce; sub-10 sprint king Asafa Powell; and the ever-courageous Novlene Williams-Mills to encourage donors is also part of the mix.

Ingrid Card, vice-president marketing, Sagicor Group, told reporters and editors at yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that the donor who gives the highest amount, starting at US$5,000, through the website: www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/sagicor-sigma-corporate-run–3, will walk away with the items donated by the athletes.

The items include the jumpsuit and spikes Powell wore when he high-stepped his way through the tape to produce 10.06 seconds in the 100m at the Golden Spike 2013 IAAF event.

Bolt donated gear he wore at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, Fraser-Pryce donated the Puma T-shirt she wore when she clocked a national record in the 100m final at the JAAA Senior Championships, while Williams-Mills has provided her Adidas spikes and shirt.

“We believe the items are valuable [as] they are from our top track stars,” Card said. “So we just need to put it out there that we have them.”

She said, in order to donate, people should visit the website, click on donate and that once this is done, the donor would be prompted to enter their credit card information.

“It is a secure site,” she insisted. “As soon as you click it, you can see your donation.”

She also encouraged people who may not be interested in the items to donate as well, because Sagicor Foundation — the organisers of the road race — welcome all donations, no matter the amount.

According to Nadine Newsome, manager, public relations and corporate social responsibility at Sagicor, the team is looking to raise US$100,000 from this initiative.

“The target is $50 million, and, as you know, we will not make all of that from the race, so the idea is that we need to invite the public to donate,” she explained, adding that the intention is to attract donors living outside Jamaica.

When the Jamaica Observer visited the website yesterday, the amount raised stood at US$231 from 11 people in six days.

Sagicor Sigma Run, over the last 18 years, has raised more than $160 million for charities across Jamaica. This year, the organisers of the road race, said to be the largest in the Caribbean, have their sights set on raising the largest amount yet, with the Jamaica Cancer Society, children with cancer across Jamaica, and the Black River Hospital Paediatric Ward set to benefit.

Powell and Williams-Mills are both patrons of this year’s staging of the event. Fraser-Pryce and Bolt are former patrons.