THE 23rd Annual Heart Foundation Health Fund is set for Sunday, November 24 at the National Stadium East track.
In outlining details of the event at yesterday's 2002 launch at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, the Foundation's general manager, Deborah Chen, said the Fund Run which starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 11:00 is "an invitation to participants to run, jog or walk at their own pace to earn monetary pledges for the benefit of the Foundation."
Gueat speaker Dr. Manuel Pena, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative in Jamaica, said the relationship between physical activity and health was no longer a matter of debate.
"Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature death from high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic diseases," Dr. Pena said.
Guest speaker at the official launch, The Fund Run was the brainchild of the late heart patient Vic Higgs. In addition to raising money for the Foundation, it encourages people of all ages to focus on the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles by recognising the benefits of regular exercise.
Teams from schools, companies and organisations will compete for trophies for the most sponsorship money collected. There will also be prizes for the team entering the largest number of participants.
The major sponsor of the event is Unilever Caribbean through its product Flora. Co-sponsors include IBM, Bank of Nova Scotia, Jamaica National Building Society, Urban Development Corporation, Citibank N.A. and Stewarts Auto Supplies.
