Inaugural Run for Mom 5K draws hundreds to Tivoli Gardens

The first Run for Mom 5K, staged in and around Tivoli Gardens, has been hailed as a success by residents, police and partner agencies who want similar activities to continue in the west Kingston community.

Long-time resident Barrington Bucknor Reed said the walk helped cast an area often associated with crime and violence in a more hopeful light. "Yeah, I am blessed, man. A glory, man. Love and unity and strength. And that we have from morning Yeah. and now at evening," he said. Reed said he felt joyful to move freely through the neighbourhood again and called for the event to grow. "But it must get bigger. Must get bigger. Cuz our thing always develop. Yeah, man. Never develop down. Always up," he added.

Police described the run as a community-building effort with strong turnout. "This, I would say, is uh historic and a very important, significant event for the community," an officer said of the large field of participants. Superintendent Jeffrey Lamey, commanding officer for the Traffic Enforcement Division, said the camaraderie among residents, visitors and corporate representatives offered an encouraging sign for future cooperation in Tivoli. "I believe from what we have seen so far, the kind of camaraderie that we have seen among community members and those who are not from the community, along with the corporate um people representatives who are here, it is an extremely positive look," Lamey said, adding that police hope to support more events there.

Participant Fiona Bentley, who brought her daughter, said residents were welcoming and cheered runners along the route. She said it felt good to support a cause tied to the community.

Proceeds and outreach linked to the run spotlight adolescent mothers as a priority group for the Women's Centre of Jamaica. Speakers noted that young mothers in Tivoli face the same vulnerabilities as their peers islandwide and need wider support to build a stronger Jamaica.

Dr. Garth McDonald, senior medical officer at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, one of the event's beneficiaries, urged Jamaicans at home and abroad to take note of the turnout. "Jamaicans, people across the world, lovely community, lot of very nice people here and I'm proud to be part of of this great historical moment," he said, describing the colours along the course, murals in the community and warm interactions with residents. "This is the place to be," McDonald added.

Organisers said more than 500 people took part in the event.