The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has again invited its staff, partners, and beneficiaries to participate in the upcoming Blue Run 5K, scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Emancipation Park. The CHASE team will join hundreds of participants dressed in blue, the colour globally recognized for prostate cancer awareness.
Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican men. 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 prostate cancer, its risks, and the importance of early detection,” said Alfred Francis, Managing Director, of Running Events Jamaica, organisers of the Blue Run 5K.
By supporting the Blue Run, the CHASE Fund aims to bring national attention to the importance of early detection, regular screening, and the need for men to prioritize their health.
“The fight against cancer, and prostate 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 Blue 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,” he added.
Under its Health portfolio, the CHASE Fund invests 20 percent of its resources in infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals, health centres and clinics and facilitating training of health care practitioners.
Specific initiatives to improve cancer detection, treatment and care include training Oncology nurses, investing in prostate cancer and breast cancer cell line research and 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.
