Virtual Component Introduced to Jill Stewart Mobay City Run This Year

Chairman and Founder of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, Janet Silvera, says the introduction of a virtual component for this year’s staging will allow participants from across the globe to support the event’s education-driven mission.

Ms. Silvera was speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, held at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional Office in St. James, on April 8.

The run is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, and will feature 5K and 10K run and walk events in Montego Bay.

This year’s staging will benefit five high schools severely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa – 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 – as well as students attending tertiary institutions in western Jamaica, including the University of the West Indies (UWI) Western Campus, University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica Western Campus, Montego Bay Community College, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, and the Caribbean Maritime University Western Campus.

Ms. Silvera indicated that the new feature is intended to broaden participation beyond Jamaica, particularly as the run celebrates its 10th anniversary.

“One of the things that we have also 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,” Ms. Silvera said.

She noted that participants will not be required to travel to Montego Bay to be part of the event, as they can complete the run from any location.

“The people don’t have to be in Jamaica; they can be anywhere in the world and be running our race this year,” she added.

Ms. Silvera further explained that the virtual option has already garnered international interest, with groups organising participation efforts overseas.

She also highlighted support from diaspora groups, including participants in the United States who are contributing to beneficiary schools.

“We have a group that is in Maine [in the United States]… . They have been working assiduously to get laptops, tablets and bags for the high schools that we’re helping [this year],” Ms. Silvera noted.

She pointed out that the virtual component will not only increase participation but also enhance fundraising outcomes for beneficiary institutions.

“We thought we should do that for the 10th anniversary because we want to raise as much money as possible to help. Any additional funding will go towards the high schools,” she said.

Participants in the virtual run will be required to register online, complete their run or walk independently and submit their recorded times.

“You register for the run… you run or walk wherever… you send us the timing. We send you your medal,” Ms. Silvera explained.

Since its inception, the initiative has donated more than $45 million towards education, assisting thousands of students across the region, with organisers continuing to expand its reach through innovative approaches such as the virtual run.