MANDEVILLE, Manchester — General Manager of Jamaica Standard Products (JSP) John O Minott, the company behind the annual High Mountain Coffee Road Race in Manchester, has said that his organisation is committed to assisting the Mandeville Regional Hospital to meet the needs of kidney patients.

“We pledge to continue supporting the hospital and in particular the Renal (kidney) Unit as long as we can,” he said on Wednesday at a handover ceremony of proceeds from the 33rd staging of the race earlier this year.

Minott, who is chairman of the High Mountain Coffee Road Race Committee, said that the $750,000 funding was raised through the event and from donations to a Wellness Fund that is set up for the cause.

He said that support that is offered is twofold, as in addition to raising funds to assist with providing the relevant supplies to the unit, it is also a way to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.

New board chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority, Wayne Chen, commended the Minotts, sponsors and others for the contribution.

“We need private citizens, we need private companies to do what they can. There are many areas of need, and not just with money. With all the good intent that Government and successive governments may have, the resources will never be sufficient. We want to see other efforts like this,” he said.

Chief executive officer at the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Alwyn Miller, said the donation to the Renal Unit from the road race is not being done for the first time.

He was among those noting the significance of public/private partnership to maintaining the health care sector.

Prior to the formation of a Kidney Unit at the hospital, patients reportedly had to travel to health care facilities outside of the parish, more than once per week, to access the required care for the debilitating and costly condition.

Along with Manchester, the Mandeville Regional Hospital serves Clarendon, St Elizabeth and a section of Trelawny.