Organisers of the JN Group Race for Hope 5k and Kids Fun Run were proud of the support for wellness, social impact, and recovery initiatives suggested by the hundreds who turned out for the event on Sunday.
The event, which featured a 5k run, 5k walk, and a separate race for children under 12 drew entrants of all ages. From seasoned runners to families with young children, the strong turnout transformed Hope Gardens into a vibrant hub of activity.
The 5k course began at Hope Gardens, winding through the scenic and hilly streets of the Hope Pastures community in Kingston before returning to the historic green space for the finish. The terrain provided both a challenge and a rewarding experience for participants.
The overall winner of the 5k run was Kemar Leslie of Rainforest/PureLuv, who finished in 16:43. Rounding out the top three males were Royale Gordon, of UCT Steppas, who completed the race in 16:49; and Jomo-Rhys Gilman, from Pacers Running Club, who stopped the clock at 17:15.
On the female side, Dandie Williams, from Pacers Running Club, took first place, completing the run in 21:26 ahead of Heba Elzoheery (23:38) and Annakay Edwards-Dub (25:07).
Williams, who has become one of the race’s consistent participants, said she enjoys running at Race for Hope and encourages others to support it annually as “it is a wonderful event with a very good cause”.
“I like the hills. I don’t mind it. My time was very good. It was my first official race for the year, and I did one minute better than I did the last time, so it was a very good race for me,” she said.
The 5K walk also proved to be competitive, with the male winner, Duwell Allen of Creation Food Ltd, taking the award in a time of 27:13, ahead of Jason Whynn, of Whynn Ton Club (31:59), and the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s Omry Samuels (32:34).
Paula Sinclair of UCT Steppas took the female award for the 5k walk, crossing the line in 32:45. In second place was Carlene Wallace, of Dufflebody365, with a time of 34:57. Karene Staple, competing independently, took third in 35:57.
The Kids Fun Run, which featured a different route inside Hope Gardens, was won by 11-year-old Dwight Wilson, with nine-year old Mikai Woon copping second place and another 11-year-old, Neymar Whyte, third.
Other awards were also presented to title sponsors JN Group as the top corporate team, AISK as the top high school, and to Pacers Running Club as the top running club.
Beyond the physical focus and event flow, organisers were praised for promoting inclusivity, ensuring that the course and activities were accessible to participants with disabilities.
Among those who also completed the 5k course were 59-year-old Vinnette Green and her 30-year-old daughter, Sasha McKane, both wheelchair users. The mother-daughter duo has made the JN Group Race for Hope a key part of their annual wellness routine.
“I always like to do these road races, and it is important to do exercise to keep your body fit and healthy,” said Green, adding that “despite the disability we still did good. I went up the steep hills and beat a lot of them that ran and walked.”
Proceeds from this year’s event have been earmarked for repairing internal roads at Hope Gardens and supporting five female entrepreneurs in western Jamaica whose businesses were affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation and member relations executive of the JN Group also disclosed at the event that of those five entrepreneurial support grants, two slots have been reserved, through discussions with the Nature Preservation Foundation (NPF), managers of Hope Gardens, for members of the Youth Entrepreneurs Association, ensuring that young women-led businesses are included in the recovery effort and positioned for long-term sustainability.
“There are many areas at Hope Gardens that could benefit from funding, but what’s remarkable is that even as the NPF works to rise and ‘build back better’, they are still committed to helping others. This iteration of the race has significant meaning for us at JN, and the social impact is one that we applaud,” she said, reflecting on the JN Group’s own commitment to the recovery efforts, national development, and sustainability.
“We are all about people. Jamaica National has been around for more than 150 years, and we are sincerely invested in Jamaica. We understand that without people, there is nothing. That’s why we are proud to support initiatives that promote wellness, strengthen social cohesion, and build our communities.”
The JN Group Race for Hope 5k and Kids Fun Run started in 2012 and has become a staple on Jamaica’s wellness calendar.
