Sagicor’s record Run
SIGMA ‘Honour’ event raises largest ever sum; three facilities to benefit
Published:Monday | February 19, 2024 | 12:18 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
When registering for the 2024 Sagicor SIGMA ‘Honour’ Run, eventual winner Garfield Gordon had one goal in mind. That was to defend his championship title, given that he already lost one year from his belt in 2022.
“It was not that easy, because I had Kemar Lindsay [second place winner] who was on my shoulder for the first three metres, so [although] my foot was a bit tight up, I still push through to get the win,” Gordon told The Gleaner immediately after running through the finish line on Sunday.
Gordon said he knew he would have been victorious when he reached the 3.5-kilometre leg of the race.
The UCT Steppas run club entrant, who has been a part of this group of runners for the last six years, said he continues to run the 5K race annually and aims to win because the race is for a worthy cause.
“This is the fourth time I’ve won the SIGMA Run ... Running is fun for me. That’s what keeps me going,” said the runner, who has been participating in SIGMA since 2013.
Gordon, who completed the 5K Run in 17 minutes and 45 seconds, said he started training for the 2024 Sagicor SIGMA ‘Honour’ Run last August.
In recent years, Gordon has been the champion in the popular Reggae Marathon race and other 5K walk/run charity events held across Jamaica.
In 2022, the sworn anti-vaxxer said nothing, not even the SIGMA rule for vaccination, could force him to enter, and he painfully watched others run, walk, and wheel while he had to bypass the race that year.
At the end of the race on Sunday morning, the Sagicor Sigma ‘Honour’ Run created history by raising a whopping $109 million for its three beneficiaries: the Savanna-la-mar Public General Hospital, the National Chest Hospital and the Danny Williams School for the Deaf.
The road race, which is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, was dedicated to the late Dr R. Danny Williams, founder of Life of Jamaica and former chairman of the Sagicor Foundation.
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT
“It is an amazing feeling to see so many Jamaicans come together to run for the fun and donate for the cause. We have come a long way, 26 years to be exact and no matter the target, we are always astounded by the overwhelming support we receive,” shared Christopher Zacca, president & CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica and chairman of the Sagicor Foundation.
This year’s run also saw a record number of 27,349 participants that registered to run, walk, or wheel, a major growth compared to last year’s number of a little over 21,000 participants.
Since its inception, the corporate run has now raised over $750 million , for close to 30 charities.
“The Sagicor Foundation will forever be indebted to the people of Jamaica, and we want to thank all our sponsors, participants, donors, volunteers and well-wishers for another successful staging,” Zacca said.
“Sigma is first and foremost about the thousands of families we impact through your support, but it is also about ensuring that the social aspect is enjoyable for everyone involved. It is a great feeling, seeing everyone on the road having fun, knowing that we all played a role in making a difference,” he said.
Patrons for the 2024 staging of the event were Reggae Boyz captain, Andre Blake; two-time World Championships 400mh bronze medallist, Rushell Clayton and radio personality, Orrett ‘DJ Bambino’ Hart.
The Sigma Corporate Run started in February 1999 in downtown Kingston. Last year, more than $91 million was raised for the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Paediatric Unit.
The top female runner this year was Elizabeth Mondo, while the Jamaica Constabulary Force won the award for the best corporate team of which National Police College of Jamaica formed a major part in the number of entrants.