THE Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI), title sponsors of Pink Run — a five-kilometre road race to raise funds for Jamaica Reach to Recovery (JR2R) — is reporting a record-breaking $9 million in net proceeds raised from the 20th staging on October 30 at Hope Gardens.

"Our teams were laser focused on ensuring we met the $5-million target needed for Reach To Recovery to continue to lend support to persons battling breast cancer, but this news is phenomenal. It marks the largest amount raised in a single year for this worthy cause," said president of ICWI Paul Lalor.

Carolind Graham, chair of JR2R shared Lalor's sentiment and added, "The sum was achieved through the registration of over 6,000 people, sponsorship from a number of companies, donations from the public, and profits from fund-raising merchandise sold. Our hearts are full and we are grateful and ready to continue the work we do through a spirit of volunteerism."

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the funds raised this year signals some $27 million raised since 2015 when the insurance company became the title sponsor.

Vice-president of ICWI and head of the Pink Run Planning Committee Samantha Samuda expressed that corporate sponsorships are necessary to the success of JR2R as they have a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of breast cancer warriors in significant ways.

"ICWI, along with our other corporate sponsors, will continue to support this organisation because the work they do is so vital to so many persons battling this dreadful disease. We also urge Jamaicans at home and abroad to donate whatever they can, whenever they can. The donation portal on the Reach To Recovery website will remain open all year round."

The Pink Run Secretariat is anticipating that the family fun run, which raised just over $5 million at its last staging in 2019, should witness in excess of the 7,000 registrants in 2023.

According to Graham, "2023 will be bigger and better".

Samuda advised that the Pink Run organising committees have already started to put plans in place for 2023 to correct the hiccups experienced during this year's staging.

"We did quite a few things differently this year and we see where there is room for improvement. Our teams have already started to plan with these challenges in mind to ensure they are ironed out ahead of next year's event."

Donations to Jamaica Reach To Recovery can be made by clicking the donate tab on their website, www.pinkrunjm.com.