ROSE HALL, St James — Organisers of the Montego Bay Night Run are targeting 5,000 participants and $15 million for education when the 5K run/walk event is held on Saturday, April 5 along the Hip Strip.

The targets are nearly double the number from last year’s inaugural staging of the event.

The 2025 staging was officially launched on Tuesday, February 18 at Hilton Rose Hall hotel, where a new course was announced by organisers the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation.

“Tonight we are not just launching a race but we are launching hope, opportunity, and a bright future for young people,” said Suzette Brown, director of The Howard Ward Benefit Foundation.

Montego Bay mayor, Councillor Richard Vernon, and newly elected Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Jason Russell were present and endorsed the event.

The event was held at Fairview last year but has been moved to Harmony Beach this year for the start and finish. Organisers hope to improve on the 3,200 participants last year which helped to raise over $8 million in scholarship money for students from western Jamaica.

“The difference between our scholarship programme and others is that we see the students through the life of their studies once they maintain a B plus average. We have a relationship with you once you perform creditably,” Brown, who was also the master of ceremony, said last Tuesday.

In addition to the new route, which they said would contribute to less traffic congestion in the city, Brown noted: “[There will be a] fresh and exciting twist to the event — a carnival-themed night run as you come for the run and stay for the fun… imagine the energy, the music, the colours and the vibes all infused into a race that celebrates movement, culture and community.”

Race coordinator Alfred “Frano” Francis of Running Events Jamaica described the event as “much more than a race”. He added: “It’s about changing lives, and sparing lives, and giving hope.”

He said the changing of the route to downtown Montego Bay and Harmony Park would not affect the flow of traffic. The race will commence at the park and the route will continue to Fort Steet, on to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, then to Godfrey Dyer Boulevard, take a U-turn and end at the park.

“We’re trying to see how we can balance having a night run, having good runner care, and also allowing the city to move,” Francis said.

He added: “One of the things that we’re advocating at Running Events Jamaica is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle because we live in a nation which is challenged by noncommunicable diseases. Through lifestyle challenges we are filling up our hospitals — 67 per cent of the beds in our hospitals are occupied by persons who, through lifestyle changes, will be out of that hospital so I encourage persons to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

– Paul A Reid