Running Events Managing Director Alfred Francis says a new 5K Run/Walk is being planned for Kingston, to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

The Blue Run, as it is called, will take place on September 17 and Francis says the idea came from a phone conversation with his former schoolmate Vernon Davidson.

“He’s a man who is a very sincere and kind person, and he made a suggestion about prostate cancer and how underserved the community is with respect to awareness,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer.

“I thought about it but the pandemic came and I’ve been mulling over it and, seeing that the road race calendar is going to be rebuilt, I think that it would only be pertinent that this year, 2023, September is celebrated as prostate cancer month and I’ve been seeing lots of effort from other persons, trying to build the awareness and I think that having a 5K to build the awareness would be in keeping with the desire of a lot of persons.”

Although Francis says details about the course will be shared later, it is expected to feature the roads of New Kingston in St Andrew as related festivities are planned for Emancipation Park.

“We’ll have a wonderful course with all the trappings of the highest standards — chip timing, great fun on the course, proper hydration, proper medical care, and good entertainment,” he said.

“We also want to do something special and unique where that event is concerned, which will be done in Emancipation Park. It’s going to be special and going to be wonderful.”

Francis says he is concerned that too many Jamaican men are still afraid to do the required screening for prostate cancer and he hopes this race will raise the funds needed to create new media campaigns to spread the message about the seriousness of the disease.

“We find that one in eight of our menfolk is gonna be in some way or form affected by prostate cancer,” he said.

“This is going to be an awareness campaign because there are a lot of phobias attached. We find that a lot of men are reluctant to check themselves and checking is very important because it is good when you can check and early detection is there; therefore, you can manage it properly. We find that non-communicable diseases, when we talk about cancers and so on, are very prevalent in society and anything that can build awareness to stem it will change and save lives. When the breadwinner of a family dies, it is devastating and it can be a strain on the family. I hope through this medium we’ll be able to gain funds so we can contribute more to screening and also build awareness that persons can live a wiser and healthier lifestyle.”

Francis, through Running Events, is the race organiser for Jamaica’s two largest yearly 5k events — the Sagicor SIGMA Corporate run, also held in Kingston, and the Reggae Marathon, which attracts runners from all over the world to Negril each December.

He says that although the date has already been set, there is still work being done to fund and market the event.

“When you are starting a new run, you have to look for sponsorship, you have to build the awareness,” he said. “We have already placed it on our Running Events calendar, so when one goes on our website, they can see the Blue Run, September 17 and we’re going out there and we’re going to make it a tremendous success.”