Five High Schools to Benefit from Jill Stewart Mobay City Run

Five secondary schools in western Jamaica that suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Melissa will receive $1 million each from the 2026 Jill Stewart MoBay City Run.

The 10th staging of the charity run, scheduled for Sunday, May 3 at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St. James, is looking to raise $10 million to support education in western parishes.

Founder and organiser of the event, Janet Silvera, said that the initiative, which traditionally raises funds to support tertiary-level students facing financial challenges, has extended its reach this year in light of the impact of the hurricane.

“This year, we have added five high schools to the tertiary institutions that have been benefiting from this annual run,” she said, while addressing a Think Tank at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Montego Bay Regional Office on Wednesday (April 8).

The institutions are Cambridge High and Herbert Morrison Technical High in St. James, Rusea’s High School in Hanover, Belmont Academy in Westmoreland, and Maggotty High School in St. Elizabeth.

Digicel Foundation, which is a sponsor of the city run, is providing an additional $2.5 million to Maggotty High.

“We have a group that is in Maine in the United States. They have been working assiduously to get laptops, tablets, bags, et cetera, for the high schools that we’re helping,” Ms. Silvera told JIS News.

Additionally, two students in Trelawny will be sponsored to participate in the international peace boat programme in June.

The event also maintains its Champions of the West programme, introduced last year to recognise and support young athletic talent.

A total of 10 student-athletes have benefited from support, including Holland High’s Shanoya Douglas and Sanjay Seymore of William Knibb Memorial High.

Ms. Silvera told JIS News that this year’s staging of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run is expected to attract 10,000 competitors, which is the largest number of participants, to date.

The event will begin at 6:00 a.m. and will feature a 5K and 10K run and walk, starting and ending at Harmony Beach Park.

Participants in the 5K will travel along Howard Cooke Boulevard and turn near Catherine Hall before returning, while the 10K route extends to Montego Freeport before looping back.

“One of the things that we have added this year is a virtual aspect to the run. So, we have friends all over the world that are registering online and will run. We have a group that will run on a cruise ship,” Ms. Silvera told JIS News.

Another new feature of the 2026 staging is a post-race beach party, providing a full morning of activity and entertainment.

Ms. Silvera notes that this year’s run also marks 45 years since Montego Bay gained city status.

Originally the MoBay City Run, the event was renamed three years ago in honour of the late Jill Stewart, in recognition of her legacy of service and her unwavering commitment to education and community development.

The event is a major celebration of fitness, philanthropy and community development.

Ms. Silvera told JIS News that over the past decade, more than $45 million has been donated from the proceeds of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, assisting thousands of students, particularly those from vulnerable communities, enabling them to access and remain in tertiary education.