The third staging of the Montego Bay Night Run on Saturday, April 4, will take a new route.

Organisers announced at the launch that participants will run towards the Freeport area and back to the starting point at Harmony Beach Park. Race co-ordinator Alfred Francis said instead of heading towards the airport as done last year, runners will start at Harmony Beach Park, travel along Howard Cooke Boulevard to the Freeport Police Station, and return.

Anchovy High School, which was badly damaged during October’s passage of Hurricane Melissa, will be the main beneficiary. Howard Ward of the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation said at the launch that about 800 students have not resumed classes because of damage to classrooms and limited space.

The race is held annually, with proceeds assisting students in high schools and tertiary institutions to meet the cost of education.

Last year’s staging exceeded its 5,000 runners’ and walkers’ target and was sold-out. Ward said that despite the devastation caused by the storm and the postponement or cancellation of several events, organisers decided to proceed with this year’s race.

Francis said the race was considered necessary after the hurricane, given the setbacks and the diversion of funds that would normally go towards school expenses. He also noted that with four major road races now held in Montego Bay each year, the running community is growing and the events continue to support others.