KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 19th staging of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run starts on Sunday, February 19 in New Kingston with close to record breaking runners, walkers and wheelchair participants set to participate.

The charity road race is aiming to raise $60 million for the 2017 beneficiaries, Bethlehem Home for Abandoned Children, Spanish Town Hospital Special Care Unit and Mandeville Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Run is being held under the patronage of Father Richard Ho Lung, Tessanne Chin and Yohan Blake.

Vice President of Sagicor Group Marketing, Ingrid Card, is reminding the public that donations are still welcomed as they are still behind their $60 million target.   

“As we look forward to race day, we continue to welcome donations through the various streams created for that purpose, as we need to ensure that the beneficiaries receive the necessary, lifesaving equipment and supplies,” said Card.

A release from Sagicor outlined that donations can still be made by visiting generosity.com and typing ‘Sigma Run’ in the search bar or through the Sagicor Group Jamaica website: www.sagicorjamaica.com and select the option to donate via Generosity.com and PayPal.

 Local residents can donate through pledge cards or make cheques payable to Sagicor Foundation or Sigma Run 2017. Deposits can also be done at any Sagicor Bank location island wide or cash deposit to Account Number – 5502326386. Persons in the United States may also make donations by contacting the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ).

Registrants are urged to participate in the pre race warm-up at 6:45am inside Emancipation Park with Body By Kurt, while comedian Elva Ruddock will take the reins on Knutsford Boulevard at the starting line.

A 7:30am and 7:35am start time has been set for Wheelchair and Run categories respectively. The Walk segment will commence approximately 15 minutes after.

Participants are asked to arrive in New Kingston, well ahead of the 7:30 am start time to avoid road closures. The public is also advised that sections of Knutsford Boulevard will be closed from 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 18.

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 day.

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