Olympian Aleen Bailey (left) and Peter Bangerter secretary/treasurer at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica greeting some of the students who turned out for the launch of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica's Fund Run at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston yesterday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE ANNUAL Heart Foundation of Jamaica Fund Run will take place at Stadium East on Sunday, November 27.
At yesterday's launch at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, Deborah Chen, executive director of the foundation, reminded her audience that the Fund Run is not a race. She said it was an invitation to participants to run, jog or walk at their own pace to earn monetary pledges for the benefit of the foundation. The Fund Run is the brainchild of the late Vic Higgs, a heart patient. It raises money to sustain the work of the foundation and encourages people of all ages to focus on the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles by recognising the benefits of regular exercise.
On November 27, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., teams from schools, companies and organisations will compete for trophies for the most sponsorship money collected, as well as the team entering the largest number of participants.
The major sponsor is Unilever Caribbean through its product, Flora. Other sponsors include IMB World Trade Corporation, Jamaica National Building Society, Scotiabank Jamaica, National Commercial Bank, Capital and Credit Merchant Bank and Stewart's Auto Sales.
Guest speaker at yesterday's launch was Dr Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Technology. In an informative and sometimes witty speech, she congratulated the foundation on the "sterling work" it has been doing over the years.
"I urge you to continue your education programme, your management of stress and your promotion of healthy eating," she said.
Also present at yesterday's function were Olympians Aleen Bailey and Usain Bolt, George Bullock, the Heart Foundation's vice-chairman and its secretary/treasurer Peter Bangerter.
