Race director at Running Events Jamaica, Alfred “Frano” Francis, is encouraging corporate Jamaica to use this year’s Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run as a means of boosting their staff’s physical activity level and promoting healthier lifestyles.

“We went through COVID-19. I think a lot of persons scaled down the discipline of going out to exercise and we want to ramp it up again. We want persons to know that physical activity improves your general welfare; it improves camaraderie at the workplace; it improve your efficiency and your productivity at your workplace,” Francis said at this week’s
Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange.

He argued that one of the greatest contributions of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run is that it can be used as a catalyst to get people moving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“We have [the Ministry of Health and Wellness’] Jamaica Moves, but we have Sigma moves, in that persons start with Sigma run as the first run of the year and they continue their journey right out to Reggae Marathon, which is the last event of the year,” Francis said in reference to the many races his company manages yearly.

He suggested that to get persons revved up to participate in the Sigma Run companies could conduct their “get-fit” component at the workplace leading up to race day, which is Sunday, February 18, 2024.

“Go back to your workplace, treat your staff, reward them for their participation, and encourage them to continue on the pathway of health and procuring a healthy lifestyle and come back to Sigma next time and bring more people,” said Francis as he pointed out that approximately 26,050 individuals are expected to participate in this year’s Sigma Run.

In the meantime, Francis said that there is also a virtual component of the Sigma Run to allow the participation of people living overseas who would like to attend but cannot make the trip to Jamaica.

“What we find is that some persons are not able to make it physically to Jamaica but they want to be a part of this wonderful experience. So we have persons in their own time, in their own space who will participate,” he said.

This year’s staging, dubbed the ‘Sagicor Sigma Honour Run’, marks the event’s 26th anniversary. It is being held in honour of the late R Danny Williams, founder of Life of Jamaica, which became Sagicor Jamaica, and the former chairman of the Sagicor Foundation which sponsors the Sigma Run.

The aim is to raise $100 million for Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital; National Chest Hospital; and Danny Williams School for the Deaf.