Gina Harrison, Co-Race Director for the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run said that ‘Go Green’ was initiated because the race wanted to set an example of how sustainable and environmentally friendly practices can be achieved through recycling and the proper disposal of waste.
“The Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run is an event geared toward bettering Jamaica through the support we provide to our Beneficiaries who, consequently, are better able to care for our nation’s children. Further to that, we are very aware of health complications, like asthma, that are caused by poor recycling and garbage disposal practices. We care for our children and want to decrease the amount of pollution in the air and environment. Hence, we developed the project to inspire everyone to rethink what they throw in the garbage and to make recycling an everyday practice,” said Harrison.

Lavern Salmon, the Executive Director for the Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited was pleased with the partnership and hopes that the recycling efforts will continue moving into 2018, for the twentieth anniversary of the Sigma Corporate Run.

“Recycling Partners of Jamaica is very proud of the partnership that we have formed with the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run team, and are amazed at the level of good corporate and social responsibilities that Sagicor has shown in bringing awareness of the environment to the Run. Collecting over 400 pounds of plastic bottles was certainly not an easy task, and I am sure that we did miss a few. However, I am confident that 2018 will be much better.  Working with Gina Harrison and the Sagicor Green Team was a breeze, and we look forward to next year’s event,” said Salmon.

Along with collecting over 8,100 bottles the event set in place measures to allow swift garbage collection and subsequent disposal. The race also moved away from the pre-race balloon release, which they said was a decision made based on the potential harm the plastic will have on the environment.

About Sigma Corporate Run
 

The “Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run” is a 5K (3.4 mile) Run, Walk, Wheelchair event that began in 1999 in Downtown Kingston at Breezy Castle with a target of $500,000 for the Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease. Held under the theme “Straight from the Heart”, the first staging saw 279 finishers. The Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run is now held annually at Emancipation Park and has become the Caribbean’s largest 5K road race.

Over $200 Million in funds have been raised in the past 19 years to purchase essential equipment for charities such as Sophie’s Place & Mustard Seed Communities, The University Hospital Labour Ward, Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, The Renal Units of the Cornwall Regional, University Hospital and Kingston Public Hospitals, Victoria Jubilee Hospital’s Neo Natal Care Unit and the Cornwall Regional Hospital just to name a few. On February 21, 2016 nearly 24,000 persons ran, walked and wheeled through New Kingston to raise over $35 Million in cash under the for children living with cancer across Jamaica, the Jamaica Cancer Society and the Black River Hospital Paediatric Unit.