JR2R sets $25 million target for 2025 Pink Run

Ready, set, pink! Jamaica Reach to Recovery (JR2R) has officially launched the 25th anniversary of the Pink Run, rallying the nation to come together in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The annual event, a symbolic fixture on the national running calendar, is set for Sunday, October 26. Dubbed Reaching Hearts, Restoring Hope, JR2R announced a goal of raising $25 million to provide life-saving support for breast cancer patients across Jamaica.

This year, JR2R is calling on 15,000 participants: families, survivors, corporate teams, and communities from across the island. In keeping with its theme of Reaching Hearts, Restoring Hope, the event is also extending a special invitation to wheelchair users, reinforcing the message that the fight against breast cancer is for everyone.

Sandra Samuels, president of JR2R, underscored the organisation’s mission in a media release, sharing, “Jamaica Reach to Recovery was formed on the belief that no woman should ever have to face breast cancer alone, or be denied support simply because she cannot afford it. From the beginning, our mission has been to stand alongside women and their families, offering emotional strength, financial assistance, and practical resources that help them navigate one of the most difficult journeys of their lives. Over the years, we have seen how life-changing it is when a survivor gives of her time and experience to help another woman through the same battle; that is the true spirit of Reach to Recovery. Our work is important because it reminds women that they are not forgotten, and that with the right care and support, survival is possible.

Through the Pink Run, we are proud to be a catalyst for hope, for healing, and for the unity of a community that refuses to let breast cancer have the last word.”

POWER OF UNITY, COMPASSION

The official launch, held at the S Hotel, brought together health leaders and advocates who underscored the importance of early detection, access to care, and community support.

Speakers included Everton Anderson, CEO of the National Health Fund; Roshane Reid-Koomson, executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, who reinforced the organisation’s ongoing fight against the disease, while Chad M. Morgan, senior health educator officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, highlighted the Pink Run’s involvement in the MOHW’s Corporate Wellness Challenge.

Adding a clinical perspective, Dr. Hugh Anthony Roberts, consultant general surgeon at Kingston Public Hospital, presented on ‘The State of Breast Cancer in Jamaica’.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Taneisha Ingleton, managing director of HEART/NSTA Trust, who called on Jamaicans to unite in hope and action in support of patients and families navigating the breast cancer journey.

Dr Ingleton shared, “Breast cancer is not just a medical diagnosis; it is a life-altering journey that affects the mind, body, and soul of patients and their families. Too many of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and even our fathers are touched by this disease, and the reality is that most Jamaicans know someone who has faced this battle. But what gives us strength is the power of unity and compassion.

At HEART/NSTA Trust, our mission is to transform lives through training and empowerment. Today, we stand proudly with Jamaica Reach to Recovery, because we know that education, skills, and support are not only tools for national development, but also for resilience in the face of challenges like breast cancer. Together, we can turn fear into courage, isolation into community, and challenges into victories. When Jamaicans unite in hope and action, there is no battle too great for us to overcome.”

According to Dr. Roberts, breast cancer remains the number-one cancer affecting women in Jamaica, the Caribbean, and across the world. Disturbingly, Jamaican women are being diagnosed at a younger age compared to their count erparts in the UnitedStates, with the median age of onset here being 52-54 years, almost a decade earlier than the US average of 60-63 years. He also highlighted that as many as one in every eight to 12women face a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and nearly half of Jamaican patients are first diagnosed when the disease is already at stage 3 or 4. This is further compounded by the fact that 33-36 per cent of local patients are under the age of 50, with a significant 16 per cent younger than 40. These realities underscore that breast cancer in Jamaica tends to be more aggressive, with higher-grade tumours and a greater prevalence of triple negative cancers, all pointing to the urgent need for early detection, awareness, and nationwide support.

LONG-STANDING PARTNERS

Founded in 1977 by breast cancer survivor Dr. Denise Thwaites, Jamaica Reach to Recovery has, for 48 years, served as a catalyst for hope, healing, and restoring self-esteem. Today, JR2R remains a member of Reach to Recovery International, an affiliate of the Jamaica Cancer Society, and a registered charity organisation.

JR2R continues to build on the foundation laid by long-standing partners such as ICWI and Toyota Jamaica, whose years of generous support have helped shape the Pink Run into what it is today. This year’s run will return to Emancipation Park, and is supported by S Hotel, Jamaica Observer, Catherine’s Peak, RJRGLEANER Communications Group, SUMMIT, Suncity Radio 104.9FM, M Catering and Mother’s Bakery, Breast Health and Oncology Care Centre, JP Foods, Juici Patties, Creative Brands and Concepts, Kool 97 FM, Garrick Communications, The Village, Supreme Ventures Foundation, Proven Wealth, WIBISCO-Shirley, National Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, Totally Male Limited, Salada, Restaurants of Jamaica, National Health Fund, XKLUSIV Media Group Limited, Running Events Jamaica, Image Plus Consultants Limited, and The Ministry of Health and Wellness.

With registration now open, runners, walkers, and families across Jamaica are encouraged to sign up early and be part of a meaningful movement for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Visit reachtorecovery.com to register. For those unable to participate in the run, donations can be made at www.jareachtorecovery.com, by calling 876-978-0375, or by visiting the Secretariat at 16 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5. Supporters can also connect with JR2R via social media: Facebook: Jamaica Reach to Recovery; Instagram: @reach2recoveryja; TikTok: @jareachtorecovery.