Dr. Tufton Endorses Guardsman Games

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has given his endorsement of the third staging of the Guardsman Games, which will be held on July 22 at Hope Zoo, Hope Gardens, St. Andrew.

This gruelling six-kilometre, obstacle-course race takes participants through rugged terrain and challenges them to conquer over 25 obstacles, such as scaling walls, crossing balance beams and climbing ropes.

Donations from the games will go towards the Guardsman/Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Boys of Hope Programme, which helps at-risk boys; Kind Hearts Foundation; and the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Dr. Tufton, who was speaking at the media launch of the games at the Serengeti Bistro at the Hope Zoo on March 20, noted that the event contributes to the development of the wealth and health agenda.

“It is a reality that as a country, we have a sick health profile… that is caused primarily by how we live and how we treat with ourselves, consumption habits and lack of physical activity. As such, the message of curative health should not focus only on the curative side. My overall view is the message must be how we prevent getting afflicted with these different ailments,” he said.

“This is what the Guardsman Games help to promote. It helps to promote health and wellness through physical activity, but, critically, it promotes resilience, determination, and stick-to-it-iveness,” he added.

The Health Minister said the games also promote team work, which, he noted, is a “big thing for us” in the public health system.

“Right now, we are promoting cooperation between institutions, various experts to understand and appreciate how we change culture and how we change behaviour. It’s a multidisciplinary approach in how we promote health and wellness within our society,” Dr. Tufton said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Guardsman Group, Kenneth Benjamin, noted that the games test participants’ endurance and mental ability.

“It has blossomed into a highly anticipated family event that emphasises fitness and teamwork. It is however, the contributions that we are able to make to some outstanding charities that give me the most joy, as the Guardsman Games is all about giving back,” he pointed out.

He noted that the charities were chosen because they are dedicated to the development of future generations.

“We strongly believe in helping them achieve their full potential; we must improve their access to education as well as proper healthcare. These are fundamental needs that must be met for our young people, as we expect the future generations to prosper,” Mr. Benjamin added.

Coming out of last year’s staging of the games, Guardsman, in partnership with the Jamaica National Group, made a donation to the Bustamante Hospital for Children for installation of a solar-energy system to power the facility’s Intensive Care Unit.

The system is a pilot project, which will be facilitated by Future Energy Group and is projected to result in more than $28 million in savings for the hospital over the next 20 years.