'Pu Dung Di Gun' races for youth empowerment

The Jamaicans For Community Development (JFCD) will be staging its 'Pu Dung Di Gun' Bicycle Road Race on Sunday, September 26, commencing at the Hunts Bay Police Station at 3 p.m.

The event is geared towards youth empowerment and forms part of mandate of the JFCD - an organisation that strives to initiate positive mindset and behavioural changes within inner-city communities.

It is expected to attract more than 50 amateur and professional riders.

The race is endorsed by the Jamaica Cycling Federation and will traverse the route of Marcus Garvey Drive, East Avenue, Spanish Town Road, Maxfield Avenue and Hagley Park Road before ending at the Hunts Bay Police Station.

Develop

"We are expecting that riders will come out and support the venture. The plan is to have this race four times a year with this year being the first," said JFCD president and Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) senior officer, Godfrey Lothian.

"Cycling is not like football with regard to crowd, but cycling is a sport that we also want to develop.

"We hope that the event will help to draw out youngsters from communities and expose them to a positive source of empowerment."

The top-three finishers in the amateur section will receive cash prize and a trophy, while the first three professional riders to cross the finish line will only be awarded a trophy.

The JFCD, according to Lothian, is a group of community people who have come together to fight crime and violence. The organisation plans to initially focus on the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, St Thomas and Clarendon.

This road race is the first major event of the JFCD, which was launched on August 14 with the support of INSPORTS, the Social Development Commission, St Patrick Foundation and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.