CHASE Fund Steps Out in Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Run!

Richard Perkins
14 Nov, 2025

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has again invited its staff, partners, and beneficiaries to participate in the upcoming Pink Run 5K, scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Emancipation Park.

The CHASE team, which currently has 223 persons registered under Team CHASE Fund, will join hundreds of participants dressed in pink, the colour globally recognized for breast cancer awareness.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican women. Despite its prevalence, public conversations around the disease are often limited, and screenings are frequently delayed due to stigma and lack of information. The CHASE Fund has long been an advocate for health initiatives that empower citizens with the tools and knowledge to make informed choices about their well-being.

“The involvement of a major organization like CHASE can inspire others to get involved, whether through donations, participation, or simply spreading the word. Each runner on the CHASE team becomes an ambassador for the cause, helping to inform colleagues, friends, and family about breast cancer, its risks, and the importance of early detection,” said Alfred Francis, Managing Director, of Running Events Jamaica, organisers of the Pink Run 5K.

By supporting the Pink Run, the CHASE Fund aims to bring national attention to the importance of early detection, regular screening, and the need for women to prioritize their health.

“The fight against cancer, and breast cancer in particular, is a cause that aligns strongly with our mission in the health sector,” said W. Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund. “We are proud to be a part of the Pink Run 5K because we believe that through awareness, education, and early detection, lives can be saved. Our presence is not just symbolic—it’s a call to action.”

CHASE Fund’s commitment goes beyond participation. Under its Health portfolio, the Fund invests 20 percent of its resources in vital areas such as infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals, health centres, and clinics, and facilitating the training of health care practitioners.

Holmwood Technical High School students from left to right, Terrica Clarke, Cindy Rose and Felicia Compass who entered the 2024 ICWI Pink Run 5K run under team CHASE Fund, holding their second, first and third place trophies respectively for the overall women’s title. The Fund entered 210 participants in the Pink Run having won the prize for the largest group at the Guardian Group Blue Run in September. Cindy Rose had also secured the top spot for women in the Blue Run as well.

Specific initiatives to improve cancer detection, treatment, and care include:

  • Training Oncology nurses.

  • Investing in prostate cancer and breast cancer cell line research.

  • Past funding partnerships which established the National Cancer Treatment Centres located at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.