The second staging of the Food For the Poor 5K Run/Walk race will take place on Saturday, May 7, to raise funds for the construction of approximately 100 houses, it was announced at yesterday’s launch at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.
Last year, the event garnered $46.5 million and 64 houses were built as a result for poverty-stricken families across the island.
Andrew Mahfood, chairman of Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica, said his organisation will be aggressive against poverty.
“My team will tell you, this is something I take very seriously,” said Mahfood.
The 5K/Walk race will once again start and finish at the Emancipation Park in New Kingston. The warm-up session is 6:15 am and the race will run off at 6:30 am.
Participants will start at Emancipation Park, then east to Oxford Road, turn north onto Old Hope Road then west on Seaview Road, another left onto Lady Musgrave Road, then right to Trafalgar Road and left onto Knutsford Boulevard and finishing at the starting point.
Regular entrance fee will be $1,000 per person and $2,000 for the premium package that includes souvenir t-shirts, light breakfast and race packet delivery.
The theme of the event is ‘Changing Lives, Restoring Families’.
One of last year’s beneficiaries, Grace-Ann Anderson, shared an emotional testimony about her struggles and eventually benefiting from FFP.
Meanwhile, Douglas Orane, one of the many donors, said it’s about helping people who have “stumbled into a pothole”. He cited a case of a gentleman that lives in St Elizabeth who was financially and emotionally distraught after his efforts to assist his ailing son failed and his son eventually died.
“When he got the house it really helped him to get back on his feet, so it’s a good feeling for us,” said Orane.
Meanwhile, Food For the Poor ambassador and 2011 World Championships 100m gold medallist, Yohan Blake, was on hand and gave his endorsement at the launch along with rising stars Akeem Bloomfield of Kingston College, Calabar High’s Christopher Taylor, Warren Barrett Jnr and Fabian Hewitt.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Food-For-the-Poor-5K-promises-to-touch-more-lives_56836
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