GUARDIAN Group Foundation will be hoping to raise approximately $35 million at its 2019 Keep It Alive 5K Night Runs for four hospitals, in their road races scheduled to be held in Kingston and Montego Bay, May 25 and June 1, respectively.

The announcement was made by Guardian Life’s President Eric Hosin at the launch at the Guardian Life Head Office in Kingston yesterday.

Hosin said the foundation was seeking to raise about $33 million but instead will target $35 million this year to benefit four hospitals — University Hospital of the West Indies, Cornwall Regional Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, and Mandeville Regional Hospital.

“As an insurance provider, we recognise the importance of promoting health consciousness and proper health care in our country. We are equally committed to playing our part as good corporate citizens in leveraging our resources and influence to improve the quality of life of our fellow Jamaicans,” Hosin said.

The Guardian Life president added that to this end, they have identified the health sector as the area where they can best advance this mission, and hence their continued investment in staging this event.

He noted that since the inception in 2014 the races have grown significantly, having registered a total of 44,000 participants, and raising $80 million.

“Last year the event raised $23 million, which enabled the foundation to provide equipment for St Ann’s Bay Hospital valued at $3.7 million, Mandeville Hospital at $4 million, Cornwall Hospital at $4.5 million, and the University Hospital of the West Indies with $10 million,” said Hosin.

According to Hosin, this year the funds will purchase equipment for the Physiotherapy Unit of St Ann’s Bay Hospital, the Accident and Emergency Unit of Mandeville hospital, operating theatres and the anaesthesiology Unit at Cornwall hospital, and the Critical Care Unit of University Hospital of the West Indies.

“In addition, service clubs, education institutions and the Kingston Public Hospital may capitalise on a 75 per cent giveback programme where they can receive 75 per cent of the total proceeds of the number of persons that registered in their name at the event,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hosin also said in addition to participation in the events, he would use this opportunity to encourage individuals to contribute to the donation bottle drive at strategic locations at the benefiting hospitals and offices of Guardian Group.

“One hundred per cent of the amount collected in these bottles are returned to the respective beneficiaries, so we encourage you to give us as much as possible towards this worthy cause,” he told the audience.

The Guardian Group president thanked all the sponsors who have come on board and continued their sponsorships, and looks for a greater participation from all Jamaicans towards this worthy cause.

Julian Robinson, the Member of Parliament for the South East St Andrew constituency where the event will be staged, wished for a successful staging.

He said as the event grows, the organisers should not only concentrate on staging the events in Kingston and Montego Bay, but in other parishes.

Race director Allan Beckford said there will be a new change to the start of the events, where any competitor who can run 25 minutes and under will be starting at the front.

“Instead of the regular one start at the gun where there is a significant rush for the lead, there will be different starts for both the runners and the walkers. This is the international standard as they said the rush start for the lead by all the competitions is very dangerous,” Beckford explained.

He appealed to the participants to come out early and register, and that they will hold keep-fit sessions for Kingston at Guardian Life Club House, 1 Musgrave Avenue on April 24, May 8, May 15 and May 22, and at Montego Bay’s Fairview Office Park on May 1, May 15 and May 29, 2019.