Heroes are expected to be out and about in the city of Kingston tackling the growing issue of homelessness when they participate in the fifth staging of the Kingston City Run (KCR) Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K carnival.

The charity event, which is the initiative of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Kingston Chapter, in association with a number of major sponsors, was conceptualised to help raise funds to support projects for the homeless in Kingston, and to raise the awareness of the city as a travel destination.

Scheduled for the weekend of March 10-12, the event will be under the theme “Heroes Run Di City”, as it targets at least $5 million to assist five main institutions in the Open Arms Drop-In Centre; Marie Atkins Night Shelter; Food for the Poor; Alpha Institute, and Missionaries for the Poor.

Nicola Madden-Greig, co-chair for the KCR organising team and immediate past president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), explained that the concept behind this year’s theme is to celebrate ordinary people, who can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.

She also alluded to the City’s recent naming among the top 52 places to visit in 2017 by the

New York Times as an opportunity to “celebrate” everything that is City Kingston.

“We can all be heroes and so we are calling all heroes far and wide internationally and locally to join us this year. We will be exploring as usual scenic cultural and mystical assets of Kingston and this route has been configured as usual to ensure that we enhance and highlight everything that is Kingston,” Madden-Greig said while addressing the launch inside the Montego Bay Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

“As you know Kingston is celebrated as a UNESCO “Creative City” for music, and we will be adding various elements throughout the race this year to ensure that you enjoy all that is Kingston — roots, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall,” she added.

The exciting weekend will commence with the customary theme party in association with Bacchanal Jamaica on Friday, followed by the health fair and fitness expo on Saturday and culminate with the much-anticipated run, walk and wheelchair events on Sunday.

The Half-Marathon and 10K will run off at 6:00 am, followed by the 5K events at 6:15 am, all starting at the jewel in the heart of Kingston City – Emancipation Park.

Over 70 prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers, along with age groups and teams. All the participants in the Half Marathon and the 10K will each receive medals.

Another new concept for this year’s staging will be the introduction of the “Give Kids a Running Chance” initiative, which is aimed at inner-city children who cannot afford to participate in the event.

This programme invites corporate bodies and individuals to sponsor inner-city youth in teams of 50 or more for a mere $60,000. The sponsorship will include entrance, as well as breakfast and transportation.

“We feel that it is important not only from a health and wellness point of view but they will also find the magic, the mystical and the fun elements of Kingston the city that they live in and love.

“We already have three companies on board, so we already have a commitment for 150 children. We are targeting 1,000 kids this year to be on the road to enjoy Kingston City Run,” Madden-Greig noted.

Meanwhile, Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, who delivered the main address at the launch, was beaming about the steady growth of the event.

“I am more than delighted to be participating in this official launch of the Kingston City Run which has helped put Jamaica and the nation’s capital, in particular, on the map in a very distinctive way.

“The growing popularity of the Kingston City Run among local and international runners augurs well for our capital. Particularly, as we seek to raise Kingston’s profile as a tourist destination, especially for cultural/heritage tourism and sports tourism,” Bartlett stated.

Since their inaugural staging in 2013, Kingston City Run has raised over $9 million in contribution to its charities.