MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — — Expectations are high that the fourth staging of the Tryall-CUMI Charity Golf Tournament will be a huge success following a significant injection of funds in the event.

At the launch on Tuesday, long-time sponsor JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation doubled its last contribution by providing a $1-million donation towards the event.

This is something that has gone down very well with the organisers who are over the moon following the development.

“It is absolutely fantastic, JMMB has always come through because it’s really two sisters, one started CUMI [Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill], one started JMMB but for them to put a million dollars towards the charity golf tournament, it’s just amazing and a good feeling,” chair of CUM Trina DeLisser told the Jamaica Observer.

“Our target this year was going to be $3 million but with the million, our target is now $4 million,” added DeLisser.

The Tryall-CUMI Charity Golf Tournament is the main fund-raising mechanism for the work of the facility that is located in Montego Bay, St James.

The money that is raised is used in the day-to-day operations of CUMI including providing a wide range of support for the clients who have mental illnesses and at times live on the streets.

With the improved support, DeLisser is hopeful that this will bolster the work of the organisation given some of things they have been noticing among the clients that they support.

“It has been worrying to see more people, younger people with mental issues,” said DeLisser as she pointed out that they have been seeing more individuals in the 25-35 age range with serious mental health issues.

According to DeLisser, the money raised from the golf tournament will provide an opportunity in terms of treatment for CUMI clients.

“It also gives us the opportunity to help before mental illness becomes so manifested in that person it’s harder. The younger the client, sometimes the easier it is for rehabilitation with the correct assessment, medication and rehabilitation,” added DeLisser.

For Suen Sitcheran, administrator of the facility, the support being provided has led to real results in recent times.

“Last year we had two clients who were rehabilitated and since the start of 2024, we have had two other clients who have been rehabilitated as well. In an 18-month period we’ve had four clients who have been rehabilitated,” Sitcheran told the Observer.

“It has been seven years since we have had any client being rehabilitated,” Sitcheran highlighted.

She too is grateful for the level of support that is being poured into the event by sponsors.

“It’s very good and it’s wonderful to see so many sponsors this year, we have 14 sponsors coming on board so we are hoping to reach our target,” added Sitcheran.

In the meantime chief executive officer (CEO) of JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation Kim Mair said a long-standing relationship with CUMI made it a no-brainer to up the support to the institution.

“It is more than just support, it’s family and the fact is in mental health we see the importance of having that support and so it is very important that persons support the work that organisations like CUMI do,” said Mair as urged other entities and individuals to come on board and support the initiative.

“I am hoping that we are encouraging other persons to get more involved and to help. I invite them to come on board and support CUMI,” added Mair.

Meanwhile DeLisser called on golfers to join the worthy cause and a good round of golf.

“Tryall Golf Club hosts a maximum of 80 golfers and while the sponsors are great, sponsors are what makes the world go round, it’s all about the golfers now. They have to enter and turn up and make it a really great tournament,” said DeLisser.

She noted that golfers who participate in the tournament have the opportunity of winning a 2023 Mercedes Benz GLB 220 if they manage to get a hole in one during the course of the event.