Organisers of the fifth staging of the Catherine’s Peak-sponsored Melbourne Cricket Club 5K Run/Walk are targeting approximately $5 million to continue their support of Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) and the Sickle Cell Unit at the University Hopsital of the West Indies (UHWI), as well as the cricket club’s annual youth development programme.

The details of the event, scheduled for March 3, were revealed during a launch at the club’s Courtney Walsh Dirve base on Thursday.

Mark Neita, president of the Melbourne CC, in welcoming the increase in sponsorship to $1.5 milion, urged the public to come out and support the charity event,

“So far, the Melbourne/Catherine’s Peak 5K Run/Walk has been very successful over the years, and it is also among the top 10 running events in the country. We need and urge the support of the public to turn out to participate in this important worthy cause,” said Neita.

THe Melbourne president is confident that this year’s staging could realise 2,500 participants. Approximately 1,600 individuals took part last year.

Kadian Harris, marketing manager of Peak Bottling, expressed her company’s willingness to partner further with Melbourne on this project, as the partnership has brought mutually beneficial.

“We also are glad to give back to the public for their support, especially Melbourne Cricket Club, for their development of cricket for the youngsters. We appeal to the public to come on board and support this event,” Harris said.

Registration for the event can be done at melbourneccjm@gmail.com or website www.melbournecricketclub.org. Entry fee is $1,000 per person.

— Gerald Reid