Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has endorsed the upcoming Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, which he described as a form of voluntourism.

voluntourism is the act or practice of doing volunteer work as needed in the community where one is vacationing.

The event will be held on Sunday, May 5 and its proceeds will be donated to students in St James who need help to continue their education.

Bartlett lauded the organisers of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, citing that it is a good event to develop.

“That’s voluntourism,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “So it’s a good thing to develop because it brings people from all over who are keen on doing good and adding public good to their achievements in life.

“The added value is also of promoting health and wellness. In other words, it’s doing good for others while also helping yourself by promoting health and wellness. So it is something that we support and encourage.”

The Jill Stewart MoBay City Run will be a 5K and 10K race/walk starting and finishing at the ‘Old Hospital Park’ on the hip strip.

The event, a staple on the running calendar, was renamed this year in honour of late philanthropist Jill Stewart.

Jill was the wife of ATL Industrial Group Executive Chairman Adam Stewart. She used the MoBay City Run, which she gave her full support, also as a competitor – winning on multiple occasions, as a platform to raise awareness for the importance of education, and health and wellness. She was also a stalwart in the development of Montego Bay.

Former two-time world record holder Asafa Powell has announced his participation to support the charity effort.

Powell, who set the 100m world record twice with times under 10.00 seconds, says he and his wife Alyshia will be honouring the memory of the late Jill Stewart in whose honour the race has been renamed.

Chief organiser Janet Silvera said they were pleased with the level of entries they had received so far.

Silvera said last week that 45 corporate groups had already confirmed their participation and they are expecting even more before the May 3 close for entries.

“In addition to the group entries that we have received, the individual entries are very encouraging and we anticipate another big turnout,” she said.