Telecommunications company Flow has pumped $1m into the Run For Mom 5K that will take place on Mother’s Day, May 10, and is being organised by the Heart and Vascular Centre to bring awareness to maternal health and support for mothers.

Flow Regulatory Finance Manager Pete Smith said the company is fully behind this event, which he says is impactful and represents care, resilience and community impact.

“At Flow, we are committed to supporting initiatives that help make a meaningful impact and a difference in people’s lives. Today’s event is a clear reflection of that commitment in action,” said Smith.

“We are proud to support this initiative through a contribution of $1 million plus connectivity to power this event and expand its reach. I can tell you as a financier, this investment is not just financial. It’s a commitment to people, progress and purpose,” he added.

The Run For Mom beneficiaries are the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, Victoria Jubilee Hospital and Charles Chin Loy Maternity Hospital.

The race will take place on Mother’s Day in Tivoli Gardens, marking what conceptualiser Dr Lorren Scott called the start of a new tradition as mothers are celebrated and supported.

“What we are launching today is the first staging of what we intend to become a national Mother’s Day tradition. Something that will grow year by year and something that continues to create real impact for mothers across Jamaica,” Dr Scott pointed out.

“We are building this step by step, and today is the first step, and I invite all of you to join us, support the initiative and on Mother’s Day come out and run, not just for yourself but for someone who matters to you,” said Dr Scott, the founder of the Heart and Vascular Centre.

Novlette Howell, Executive Director of The Women’s Centre of Jamaica, was on hand at the launch, and she was more than pleased with the gesture.

“It is a privilege to join you today at the launch of Run For Mom. On behalf of the Women’s Centre, I extend gratitude to the Heart and Vascular Centre for selecting us as a beneficiary of this meaningful effort,” said Howell.

She continued: “At the Women’s Centre, our mission is to empower adolescent mothers to continue their education and to build a sustainable future for themselves and their families.”

One of the ways Howell explained is through its Advancing Secondary, Tertiary and Remedial Education for Adolescent Mothers (ASTREAM) programme.

“We aim each academic year to support at least 40 secondary-level beneficiaries, four tertiary-level beneficiaries, and two young fathers. This initiative recognises that education is a critical pathway to breaking cycles of vulnerability and creating lasting change,” she noted.

“Since its inception in 2018, the programme has supported over 250 adolescent mothers and four young fathers. We have disbursed more than $9 million in educational assistance, helping our beneficiaries to access tuition, supplies and other essential resources,” Howell added.

Registration will cost $2,000 before May 1 with a bib and shirt, while after May 1 it will cost $2,500 plus a bib and shirt, and $2,000 for a bib. BeckaSports will handle registration and timing.