Managing Director of Running Events Jamaica (REJ) Alfred Francis says he projects a loss of more than $101 million in fundraising for charities from the walk/run races the body manages. This is because the majority of the events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

REJ is responsible for managing many local walk/runs including the Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run, the Digicel 5K For Special Needs and CUMI Come Run.

Through these events, these foundations were able to raise more than $148 million in 2019 in aid of charities such as hospitals and homes.

The 2020 walk/run season ended in March as a safety protocol against the pandemic, but Francis said that from the only three events held, they saw $6 million increase in funds raised when compared to the similar time period of 2019.

He said if all went well, they were looking at an overall increase in raised funds for 2020.

“Beyond that background, we had projected that this year, based on the 10 per cent increase, we would have raised $163,273,081.63,” Francis said.

PROJECTED LOSS

REJ was unable to meet this target because most of the events planned for 2020 were cancelled.

“We projected that the loss from the events for 2020 would be $101,471,662.68,” he said.

Francis said REJ, in partnership with the foundations, is trying new ways to raise some of the funds for the charities because they are still in need.

They have been planning virtual runs but Francis said that these events will never be as effective as the physical events.

“We have found today that the virtual runs cannot replace these runs in terms of funds raised or participation,” he said.

He said though the participants are fewer in numbers, people are still participating in support of the cause.

“I think that when you touch the heart of people, they will come through,” Francis said.

He said that apart from managing Running Events, they do direct donations to different charities through the company’s events.

“We not only execute races but have created our own foundation and we make contributions to people’s health, accommodation and various things,” he said.

Francis said he hopes the walk/run events will restart soon because it is a major contributor to charities and is also responsible for healthier changes in people’s lifestyles, which will help in their individual fight against COVID-19.

Sharla Williams