A significant number of mature Jamaicans, including some senior citizens, turned out this year to support the Heroes in Act!on Run/Walk, which identified the Trelawny Infirmary as the 2017 beneficiary of proceeds from the event.

The run/walk, which was organised by the JN Foundation in partnership with the Usain Bolt Foundation, was held on Sunday, October 15 in the historic town of Falmouth, Trelawny.

This year’s event attracted 90-year-old Roy Thomas, one of the oldest marathon runners in Jamaica, who came in third in the 4K Run in the male category’s Super Masters Age Group 60-99, clocking a time of 42:31 minutes.

For 77-year-old Gerline Nelson, who was first in the female category, this year’s event was special for her. “I run at all times because it means something to me. People who are sick can get help through these marathons,” she said.

Nelson, who began running marathons back in 2006, has become an expert. Her advice for keeping fit is to reduce salt, fat and meat and eat more fruits and vegetables.

“No bag juice, no Quench Aid. I mix my own juices. I go to the market, purchase the beetroot, carrot, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower and blend all of them together and drink it,” she informed.

She has also participated in other marathons in Trinidad, Antigua and Cayman.

Eighty-one-year-old Norma Chang, a resident of Falmouth, Trelawny, said she was happy to participate in the event as the proceeds will go toward the Trelawny Infirmary.

Onyka Barrett-Scott, partnership and development manager at JN Foundation, said that the Trelawny Infirmary was selected as this year’s beneficiary because of the important role the elderly played in building communities.

“We believe in our elders. We know that they played important roles in the building of communities that we now call home; and, therefore, it is only fitting that when they reach their golden years that they can continue to live with dignity and in comfort,” she said, noting that proceeds from the race will be used to improve facilities at the Trelawny Infirmary.

Data from Running Events Limited revealed that there were more participants in the 40-59 age group in this year’s event, with 198 persons registering, which was up from 173 in 2016. For participants in the 60-69 age group, 29 persons registered for the event this year, which was the same as last year. The overall number of participants in this year’s event was 1,600.