JCF Torch Run 2005 gets Major Financial Support

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Law Enforcement Torch Run 2005 for Special Olympics has received major financial assistance to kick start this year’s campaign.

The annual campaign which is in its 18th year has so far attracted more than $450,000 in sponsorship for this year’s run.

Supreme Ventures Limited, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) and United Bookmakers Association are among the major sponsors of the JCF initiative, which is seeking to acquire $2 million to donate to Special Olympics Jamaica.

The sponsors made their donations yesterday (February 25) at a press briefing held at the Police Officers Club on Hope Road in Kingston.

The Olympic torch run will start at Morant Bay in St. Thomas on May 18 and will culminate on May 28 at the Police National

Sports at the Elletson Road Sports Complex in Kingston. The event will travel through all 14 parishes where some 19 police divisions will hold fundraising events for the athletes.

The World Summer Games and World Winter Games are held every four years for the Special Olympians.

This year’s Winter Games is currently being held in Japan where the Jamaicans are participating in floor hockey as part of a regional team as well as Ice Skating.

In March the parishes will select their representatives to attend the National Games at the University of Technology (UTech).

The 2007 Olympics will be held in China.

In thanking the sponsors Executive Director of Special Olympics Jamaica, Lorna Bell announced that the Association would be seeking to send 100 athletes to China in 2007, where the team would participate in nine different disciplines.

This would be an improvement over the 50 athletes who participated in five disciplines at the 2003 games.

Ms. Bell noted also that the Association hoped to increase the number of disabled persons involved in Special Olympics by 20 per cent. The membership presently stands at 2,200.

She urged Jamaicans to come out and support the torch run. “Let us all work together in the torch run for the betterment of persons with disabilities,” she implored.

Meanwhile Police Commissioner, Lucius Thomas also thanked the sponsors and called on prospective sponsors to come on board and give their support. “I am heartened by the contributions and donations and we are grateful,” he said.

Commissioner Thomas further noted that, “our altruistic ventures are carried daily without fanfare and with humility however these acts of goodwill are never generally highlighted”.

He also called on Jamaicans to come out and support the Police as the event travelled across the island, and asked the runners to carry out their duties with courtesy.

The majority of funds for the torch run are derived directly from contributions from members of the JCF, the public, by way of walk-a-thons, and contributions from the business communities.

Since its association with the event in 1987, the JCF has raised in excess of J$15 million to support the Special Olympians.

Other sponsors of this year’s event are D&A Food and Vegetable Supply, Port Maria Epping Service Station, the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union and RST Industries.