Although Clifton Thompson had to manoeuvre many hurdles throughout his lifetime, maybe more than what Olympian gold medal winners like Omar McLeod had to do in Rio, today he can also surely proclaim to be a gold medal winner in his own right.

Like many athletes, Thompson has persevered and kept his vision on his goal to achieve success, despite dire circumstances. His success is one of academic achievement which has earned him first class honours in biochemistry with a minor in food chemistry. Thompson was among the graduates of The University of the West Indies last month and intends to return to the university in the near future to attend medical school.

He was able to reach this academic milestone through a scholarship from the CB Group UWI 5K event, held each year to support The University of the West Indies Scholarship Fund in educational and sports development. Over the past four years, students experiencing financial challenges have been beneficiaries of the fund, which has enabled them to be well on their way to achieving their career dreams. The 2016 event is scheduled to take place on the Mona Campus tomorrow starting at 7:00 am.

Thompson grew up in a family with 10 siblings in a small community of Moores in Clarendon and is the first to have attended university.

“Looking back at my life,” said Thompson. “I never dreamed that I would get a chance to go to university, much less to do medicine….I almost gave up on my dream as I thought that medicine was not for someone poor like me.”

Sharing the struggles that he experienced, he said that he had to skip basic school, and started at the primary level at seven years old. During this time he said that some days he had no lunch, unless his older brother sold marbles to feed them both.

Despite this, he said he and his brother continued to perform well in school. He came upon another road-block where the unavailability of his birth papers prevented him from taking the GSAT exam. It was while at junior high school that he got the opportunity to take the GSAT exam and passed for Vere Technical High School.

The struggle continued on his journey to university as he thought that after completing his CAPE studies, getting a scholarship would be a breeze, but discovered otherwise. When he tried to apply for assistance from the student’s Loan Bureau, he was turned down due to lack of guarantors.

“I became depressed knowing that all my friends would be going to university while I would have to stay home,” said Thompson.

He shared that it was the kindness of his Biology teacher at Vere, Mrs R Logan, who offered him a job as a laboratory technician at the school, that lifted his spirit and other teachers such as Rayon Myers and Tyrone Knight who offered to be his guarantors so that he could access a loan at the Students Loan Bureau.

“Although I was a bit lost and unsure when I just started university, and my dream to pursue medicine still seemed impossible, I decided to do biochemistry and asked God to just pull me through the first year and hoped that I would get a scholarship,” reflected Thompson.

Thompson said while in a food chemistry lecture session one day, he heard his phone ringing, although he normally kept it off or on silent during these sessions. “I decided to answer and it was a call that changed my life…. I was told that I had received a scholarship. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even finish my lecture session as I was too happy to focus. I am truly grateful to the CB Group in partnership with UWI for giving me the opportunity to finish my degree without much financial struggles,” said a gleeful Thompson.

The first class honours student said, if given the opportunity, he plans to pursue his passion for medicine by applying for medical school at UWI for the next academic year (2017/18) and also for the MBBS programme with thoughts of later becoming a cardiologist.

“I feel that I am truly blessed. With my hunger for success and with hard work. If given the opportunity I know I will do well and make everyone who has invested in my education feel proud of me,” concluded Thompson.

The CB Group UWI 5K and Smart Eggs Kids K Scholarship event is also made possible through the generous corporate sponsorship of Proven Investments, National Baking Company, RJR Group of Companies, the

Jamaica Observer, Scotiabank, Mayberry Investments, Pelican Pure Spring Water, Rainforest Seafood, European Union,CVM, Island Grill, Sun Bloc Awings and Tents,Power 106, Visual Vibes Limited, Port Authority of Jamaica, The Pegasus Hotel, Dunlop Corbin,Newstalk and Running Events.

This year’s event is being held under the distinguished patronage of two outstanding philanthropists — Douglas Orane, business leader, and author; and Donette Chin Loy-Chang, PR Counsel, and co-patron of the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala, as well as co-chair, Food for the Poor Canada. The gala has so far contributed over 100 scholarships to UWI students.

The event will see runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants they will also have a segment where tribute will be paid to a Jamaican who has made outstanding and dedicated service to sports. This year’s award will be presented to Molly Rhone, who has served with distinction in the field of netball.

Alfred Francis, of Running Events Jamaica, will again be at the helm giving professional direction for the event. A fund-raising target of $20 million has been set and the event co-ordinators are looking for an increased number of entrants surpassing the 4,000 who participated last year.