COCONUT CREEK, Florida — Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake will lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger on Saturday, November 17, at 7:00 am at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Blake, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, is the current world champion over 100 metres and a silver medallist at the 2012 Olympics in London in the 100 and 200 metres.

“It’s really great that Food For The Poor is stepping up to help more people overcome poverty,” said Blake, one of the world’s youngest and fastest sprinters. “It is a cause that’s near to my heart as a Jamaican, and I’m happy to be part of something so special, including giving back to my country.”

Blake’s participation in the charity’s 5K Walk/Run is especially meaningful because both the athlete’s and the nonprofit’s legacies started in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Born in 1989, Blake has dedicated his life to the sport, and is currently tied as a second-fastest man in the 100-metre race after Usain Bolt. The two were part of the Jamaican 100-metre relay team that won the gold medal and broke a world record in the London Olympics. In 1982, the nonprofit started out as a small feeding programme in Jamaica, and since then has grown exponentially to become the largest international relief organisation in Jamaica and the United States.

“We are so honoured to have a Jamaican national hero join us for this important and fun event,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “He has channeled his passion and enthusiasm so beautifully for the sport, and to serving the underprivileged. He is a true hero.”

Proceeds from this year’s 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Interested individuals can register online at www.foodforthepoor.org/walk. Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children five and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event.

This year, a generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food.

Special awards will be given to top finishers of each age group. Food For The Poor will be using AccuChip to provide state-of-the art timing and scoring. This service is used for running, triathlon, swimming, mud runs and biking events in Florida.