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New CUMI ambassador highlights mental-health issues

Published:Sunday | September 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Sandals Foundation's Rachel McLarty (left) and Flow's director of corporate affairs and government, Denise Williams, during the launch of the Flow CUMI Come Run at the Montego Bay Yacht Club on Thursday, September 1.
Head of the Flow CUMI Come Run, attorney-at-law Jacqueline Hamilton, gives one of the new CUMI ambassadors, Tourism Enhancement Fund chairman, Godfrey Dyer, some information about the organisation. - Photo by Sheena Gayle
Race Director Rayne Russell and race coordinator Carline Porter in a jovial mood at the Flow CUMI Come Run 10K Run/5K Run/Walk launch.
Rayne Russell (left), race director for CUMI Come Run 2011 along with the CUMI ambassador Godfrey Dyer (centre) and Denise Williams, director of Corporate and Government Affairs, are caught on camera during the lauch of the CUMI Come Run 2011 at Seahorse Grill, Mont6ego Bay Yacht Club. - Photo by Sheena Gayle
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The annual Flow Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI) Come Run recently received a major boost as businessmen Godfrey Dyer and Brian Jardim agreed to become official ambassadors for the annual CUMI Come Run, while title sponsor Flow committed $1 million in cash and prizes for another year.

The 10K/5K fun run and walk is staged as a fund-raising event which helps to maintain the mentally ill and homeless of St James.

At a press conference to launch the annual event held at the Montego Bay Yacht Club on Thursday, September 1, Dyer, chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, pledged to add his influence to help further care for the mentally ill and homeless in St James.

He spoke on behalf of his counterpart Brian Jardim, managing director of Rainforest Seafoods.

"The cost of mental illness is personal, social and economic in nature, thereby impacting not just the ones who suffer from it but, by extension, all Jamaicans," said Dyer. He told the audience that the time to act is now as, "mental illness" puts significant strain on the country's health-care budget and the economic burden with respect to lost productivity is inestimable.

"My presence here is to indicate that as an ambassador of Flow Cumi Come Run, I intend to work with this organisation to enhance the national dialogue on mental issues," he said.

Those sentiments were echoed by Flow's director of corporate and government affairs, Denise Williams, who urged attendees to join the movement to help better support the mentally ill and homeless. "Events like the Flow CUMI Come Run define us as a people willing to stand up for those who are vulnerable, creating avenues for us to work and interact as a community and make us more productive as we work together to help care and even rehabilitate individuals who may risk never living a normal life."

Struggle to find funds

The organisers of the Flow CUMI Come Run are delighted with the new and continued support as the organisation which continues to struggle to find funds to care for the mentally ill. Nurse Joy Crooks, who is the driving force behind the organising committee, appealed for more support. "Although we were able to raise over $2 million last year, we still struggle daily to carry out the needs of this vulnerable group. We urge you to all step up and help us care and make a difference.

As part of last year's fund-raising exercise, CUMI donated $1 million to the purchase of a bus/emergency unit for the Cornwall Regional Hospital. The vehicle will serve the entire county of Cornwall.

This year's run will be held on Saturday, October 1, starting at 7 a.m. at the Tryall Club. Other sponsors are JMMB, Tryall Club, Sandals Foundation, National, COPA Airlines, Rainforest Seafoods, Cascade Group and Power 106 FM.