The inaugural CB Group UWI 5K Run / Walk raised J$18M which will go towards scholarships and the development of sports programmes, on the UWI Mona Campus. The announcement was made at a press conference on the campus this week. The amount far surpasses the target of J$8million set by organizers.

In making the announcement, Hon. Douglas Orane, honorary patron of the advisory council of Grand Jamaica Homecoming 2012, stated, “This is what happens when the stars are aligned – when you have a committed and caring team, and when giving forward to education is the goal.”

In receiving the J$18M cheque from Mr. Orane, Professor Gordon Shirley, Principal of the UWI Mona Campus, said, “I am thankful to those who had this vision and executed it so seamlessly. I am grateful to CB Group who has committed to sponsor the event for another two years; it is overwhelming…and to all the other sponsors please accept my gratitude on behalf of the UWI, Mona Campus. CB Group committed as lead sponsor for three years at a J$3M price tag for the first year.

Local track and field coach Hon. Glen Mills was also honoured at the CB Group UWI 5K. A citation was read, a trophy and painting by Howard Moo Young, was presented to this celebrated coach. Olympians Warren Weir and Hansle Parchment, also a UWI student, were in attendance to recognize the revered coach. Alongside them also were past Olympians, Grace Jackson and Juliet Cuthbert.

The inaugural CB UWI 5K was staged on November 18, 2012 at the UWI Mona Bowl. With an unprecedented number of people registered for the first-time race, organisers confirmed a count of over 2,500 people - a testament to the larger community's desire to support sustainable development of UWI and its students.

The extraordinary organising committee team consisted of several business leaders including Thalia Lyn, Douglas Orane and Minna Israel, and several UWI executives such as Principal Gordon Shirley and Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Elizabeth Buchanan Hind, who worked alongside a strong team of professionals from UWI and within the business community. At present, 5K is the largest project under the Grand Jamaica Homecoming 2012 initiative…which originated in Canada over a year ago.

 Race registration coupled with corporate support and individual donations from UWI alumni and others, all assisted in the event organisers' success in more than doubling their initial financial goal.

Corporate sponsorship was led by the CB Group. Other sponsors included Scotiabank, Jamaica Beverages, National Bakery, Sterling Asset Management Limited, Supreme Ventures, RJR Group, CVM, Dunlop Corbin Communications, Irie FM, Grace Kennedy, Island Grill, Pepsi Company of Jamaica, Sagicor Group, Ernst and Young, Grand Jamaica Homecoming, The Gleaner, Jamaica Observer, Music 99FM, Power 106,

News Talk 93fm and Nationwide, Kingston Wharves, Cari-Med, Jamaica National, and Mona School of Business & Management.   

According to Mark Haskins, CEO of Caribbean Broilers, “The CB Group is committed to the growth and development of education and sports in Jamaica and was only too happy to be a part of a process that will see outstanding scholars and athletes realize their fullest potentials”.

A number of Alums and friends rose to the challenge of underwriting the cost of the event.  These included Archibald Campbell; Leighton Mcknight; Don Wehby; Brian Jardim; Howard Mitchell; Gary Peart; Dr. Stefan Maxwell; Douglas Orane; Harry Smith; Peter Chin; Courtney Campbell; Glen Christian; Chris Williams and Claude Fletcher. 

Along with the many students, faculty, and alums participating in the race, a number of notable business leaders, government officials, dignitaries and diplomats were also in attendance, amongst them, Ambassadors from The EU, China, Mexico, Spain, the United States of America, Brazil and Columbia; the former and current High Commissioners of Canada; the High Commission of South Africa; former Governor General, Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Eastern, Andrew Hylton; and Minister without Portfolio with Responsibility for Sport, Natalie Neita-Headly and opposition senator Chris Tufton. The Grand Jamaica contingent from Canada included, co-patron G. Raymond Chang; president Jamaica Homecoming Canada Donette Chin-Loy Chang; Vice–President Toni Spooner and Canadian Olympian Hugh Spooner as well as Lily Lubianski, member of the committee.

The CB UWI 5K is scheduled as an annual event. According to Mr. Orane, the hope is that the event will grow, and become a signature event on the Jamaica’s running calendar and that it becomes a ‘game changer’ for UWI graduates giving forward to their alma mater…as the funds are much needed to support various underdeveloped areas of the university and provide scholarships for a number of students.