Ministry of Health, NHF partner with Running Events for Blue Run 5K

The Guardian Group Foundation mobile unit will be on location to provide basic health checks and information on prostate cancer for the runners expected to participate in the inaugural Blue Run 5K on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. in Emancipation Park.

“This is a major show of solidarity for the emphasis Running Events Jamaica will be placing, through the Blue Run 5K, on the need for awareness through early detection of prostate cancer during Prostate Cancer Month in September,” said Alfred ‘Frano’’ Francis, race director of Running Events.

Running Events Jamaica will be partnering with the National Health Fund (NHF), the Ministry of Health & Wellness, the Jamaica Cancer Society and Brothers United Against Prostate Cancer for the event. A donation will go to the Jamaica Cancer Society.

Francis said with Jamaica recorded as having a prostate cancer age-standardised rate of 304/100,000 per year, Running Events took the decision to highlight Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with the inaugural Blue Run 5K, as his organisation recognises the uphill task of raising awareness in our society and, at the same time, promote the availability of discounted screening offered by the National Health Fund,

The Running Events race director said he was expecting a high level of support from corporate Jamaica and individuals who will have the option to run, walk or dance to the music provided along the race route throughout New Kingston. It will be a fun event featuring showers of blue powder and post-race entertainment by Verlando Small. The race route will traverse New Kingston and its environs, along which there will be hydration stations. There will also be a variety of product-sampling options in the park, post race.

According to Dr Tamu Davidson, director of Non-Communicable Diseases and Injury Prevention at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, “prostate cancer shows no symptoms in the early stages, which is the reason why men should begin screening from age 40, a critical move in detecting any possibility of the disease being present”.

Race ambassador and MC for the event will be media personality, ‘Burgerman’.

Among the sponsors are Running Events Jamaica, Guardian Group Foundation, National Health Fund, Catherine’s Peak, The Best Dressed Chicken, St Mary’s, Nissan, Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Recyling Partners, The Art Printery Limited, Secret Deodorant, Haliborange Vitamin C, Tru Shake, Jamaican Teas, P A Benjamin’s, Grace Foods, the Jamaica Cancer Society and Rehab Oasis.