SOME 10,600 people participated in Saturday evening’s Digicel Image 5K in downtown Kingston, the telecommunications firm reported yesterday.

The fourth staging of the event was in aid of 12 special needs beneficiaries — the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Early Stimulation Plus, Genesis Academy, Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation, The STEP Centre, Liberty Academy, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Mustard Seed Communities (Jacob’s Ladder), Naz Children’s Centre and Special Olympics Jamaica.

“Seeing the thousands of individuals lined up at the start line this year was heart-warming, humbling and very encouraging for us,” said David Butler, CEO for Digicel Jamaica. “Tonight’s turnout also means that over 10,600 individuals are more aware about special needs and have contributed to help improve the quality of life for persons living with special needs.”

“We want to thank everyone — the participants, our sponsors and partners from corporate Jamaica and the public sector, the media and importantly our hundreds of volunteers — for joining us in the support of this great cause,” Butler added.

The company is also celebrating several firsts for the race with this year showing the highest number of participants coming from the special needs community. Mustard Seeds registered 229 participants, while Early Stimulation Plus registered a team of 221 participants. The race also received massive support from the school population across Jamaica with a total of 427 students from secondary schools and 555 from tertiary institutions, the company said.

A new addition to this year’s race and a first for 5K races in Jamaica was the fun route. Participants in this section of race were splashed by paint as they started the route that was laced with fun, interactive obstacles. These include more paint, a maze, a giant sized pendulum swing, tyre run, balance beam and ended with a slip and slide, a company release said yesterday.

“We are grateful to the thousands of persons who registered in this year’s race; they have boosted the Foundation’s islandwide programme for our special needs family. Our patron Denis O’Brien has inspired us with his passion to uplift these beloved Jamaicans. Our special needs students, athletes, teachers, coaches and volunteers have brought us and our country pride and joy and it is a privilege to partner with them,” said Jean Lowrie Chin, chairman of the Digicel Foundation.