Special Olympics pleased with Melbourne 5K support

Chairman of Special Olympics Jamaica, Dr. Carlton Davis, has hailed Melbourne CC for selecting them as the club's charity for their second annual 5K.

The Melbourne CC/Purewater 5K Run/Walk, will be held on Sunday, March 6.

"Special Olympics has survived on volunteers, and sponsorship," said Davis at the road race's official launch of Thursday at Melbourne.

The event, which will have in attendance two of Jamaica's top road race runners, Andrew Gutzmore and Karlene Blagrove, will see Special Olympics receiving assistance to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

To be held under the theme, "Runs for Cricket: Runs for Special Olympics", the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)-sanctioned event will have several attractions.

Top among these will be the "Wear Something Cricket" feature, which will see the most creative entrant winning a Samsung Galaxy S5 cellular phone.

Also on the cards will be $15,000 prize for the cricket club which enters the most participants, and the cricket club which dresses the best in their club colours.

David Wong, managing director of Peak Bottling Company, distributors of Purewater, said his organisation was pleased to be associated with the event once again.

"Melbourne has been the training ground for many Jamaican cricketers, and by extension, has been instrumental in the development of West Indian cricketers," he said.

Meanwhile, Ian Forbes, second vice-president of the JAAA, expressed satisfaction at the staging last year, and wish the event success.

"The JAAA is very pleased with how things evolved last year, and how this meet has developed to where you have 31 sponsors and partners," Forbes said.