Members of Jamaica’s blind society are to benefit from this year’s The Best Dressed Chicken/Everyone’s A Winner 3K and 5K races set for Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16 at the Hope Botanical Gardens, beginning at 6:00 am. To mark the occasion, visually impaired Senator Floyd Morris is expected to be among the contingent of visually impaired participants at the event.

Race director Alfred Francis says part of the proceeds from the event will go to the Jamaica Society for the Blind’s Scholarship Fund, “to provide financial assistance to sight-challenged students from fourth to fifth forms and final-year tertiary students”.

Another recipient of the funds raised by The Best Dressed Chicken/Everyone’s A Winner 3K and 5K races will be Latoya Butler, a 21 years old daughter of a long-servicing employee at The Best Dressed Chicken, battling leukaemia.

“At The Best Dressed Chicken, we are all about supporting our community,” The Best Dressed Chicken Brand Manager Arielle Oliver said. “The Everyone’s A Winner Father’s Day race is a perfect example of how we come together as a team each year to contribute to a great cause. This year, in particular, is even closer to home, as a portion of the funds raised will go towards cancer treatments for the daughter of one of our team members. Giving back is a part of who we are and we’re inviting Jamaica to join us as we stand together to help anchor Latoya on her journey to good health.”

Francis said last year’s beneficiary of proceeds from The Best Dressed Chicken/Everyone’s A Winner race, Raje Joseph, now 13 years old, is on the road to recovery and is a student of Glenmuir High School. He was diagnosed with stage-four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which affects the lymphatic system, and needed a stem cell transplant.

This year’s Father’s Day event will offer a boutique race experience for individuals, families, and teams from corporate Jamaica aimed at improving their performance and overall health.

The event is limited to 3,000 participants who will receive a shirt upon bib collection, and a medal at the finish line, while the top three father-child duo in the 3K and 5K races will be presented with special trophies.

Also among the prizes will be free passes to Hope Zoo for the fastest children under 12 who cross the finish line, in addition to trophies for the overall male and female winners in first, second and third places.

Running teams will once again compete for the Roy Thomas Trophy, honouring the veteran road racer who has been an inspiration to the Jamaican road racing community.

Race organisers, Running Events Jamaica, have promised post-race favourites such as tastings and refreshments, massages, a misting station, and health checks by the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, culminating with an awards presentation ceremony.

Sponsors are Running Events Jamaica, The Best Dressed Chicken, the
Jamaica Observer, Catherine’s Peak, Gatorade, Salada, Pure Country, JP Farms, Purity, Chas E Ramson, Bella Oasis, The Art Printery, and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.