KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 18th staging of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run will bring New Kingston alive tomorrow morning when over 20,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair participants will turn out in support of the event’s 2016 charities: Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital’s Paediatric Unit and children with cancer across the island.

The five-kilometre road race has maintained its focus to unite Jamaicans to raise funds for one cause – charity. While numerous child and health care facilities have benefited from over J$160 million raised in its history, the 2016 charities have seen the largest monetary target yet — J$50 million.

Ingrid Card, vice president of Group Marketing at Sagicor says: “We continue to welcome donations as the target as we must ensure that the beneficiaries receive the necessary and life-saving equipment and supplies.”

Donations can still be made with credit or debit cards via www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/sagicor-sigma-corporate-run–3. The announcement of the final amount raised will be made at Emancipation Park on race day during a presentation ceremony with MC Jenny Jenny. Entertainment and presentations to finalists will also take place in the Park – post race events.

Registrants are urged to participate in a 6:45 am warm-up session in Emancipation Park with Karelle Ashley of Jamfit, while comedian Elva Ruddock will take the reins on Knutsford Boulevard at the start line. A 7:27 am and 7:30 am start time has been set for wheelchair and run categories, respectively. The walk segment will commence approximately 15 minutes after.

Participants are asked to plan to arrive in New Kingston, well ahead of the 7:30 am start time to avoid road closures as well as to park and warm up for the largest road race per capita in the Caribbean.

Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis of Running Events, race director for Sigma Run, says some enhancements have been made for better logistics.

“We have changed the route to omit Suthermere Road and Parish Place by Mandela Park in Half-Way-Tree. This year, we will turn at the clock in Half-Way-Tree, making the left onto Hope Road as against Sutheremere. This facilitates a greater road space for marshals, emergency and all support vehicles without too much inconvenience to the runners.”

The event organisers have enhanced systems to secure the safety of participants. Elements such as medical stations and ambulances, security officials, race marshals, hydration stops, and emergency numbers on each race bib are just some of the safety mechanisms in place for the big day.ParkingRoad Closure

Participants and the general public are also urged to use the #SigmaRun2016 and share #WhyIRunSIGMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Traffic officials will be on hand to direct vehicles to designated parking lots. No parking is permitted on Knutsford Boulevard, along the perimeter of Emancipation Park, Park Boulevard or in the NHT parking lots.

Roads leading to and from Emancipation Park in New Kingston will close promptly at 7:15 am. Traffic will be diverted to facilitate the prompt start of the race events. All roads leading off the race route will have periodic and interrupted flow of traffic starting from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. The driving public is asked to avoid the major intersections of Half-Way-Tree and the surrounding area during this time period.