Barbadians are encouraged to participate in a five-kilometre run and walk this coming Sunday, July 15, at the Bay Street Esplanade. The event is being organized by Miss World Barbados, Ashley Lashley, in an effort to raise awareness and fight non-communicable diseases.
Under the theme Schools Against Non-communicable Diseases, Lashley, the daughter of former parliamentarian and community activist Hamilton Lashley, explained that besides the run and walk, the organizing committee held a conference on Thursday, to tackle the issue.
Lashley, a former student of the Lodge School, said she would like to see more Barbadians getting involved in physical activities in an effort to fight non-communicable diseases. She said funds raised would go towards purchasing prostheses for amputees in Barbados.
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From left, Coordinator of the 5k Run Ronald Waithe and founder of the Schools Against Non-communicable Diseases and Miss World Barbados Ashley Lashley. (Picture by Morissa Lindsay)[/caption]
Roland Waithe, coordinator for the fitness programme and a member of the organizing committee, outlined the route for the event which begins at 4 p.m. “The route will be from the Esplanade heading to the direction of Banks gas station, make the left turn onto the top of Chelsea road. At that junction, turn left onto Culloden Road, cross the junction by the lights over to Belleville. Go down Belmont Road to the roundabout, then make the left turn and go down Martindales Road by the hospital. At that junction, you go down Jemmott’s Lane and back up.”
T-shirts for the event will be available at the Heart and Stroke foundation from July 12 at BDS$20 for adults and BDS$15 for children. There is also a ribbons drive and individuals are asked to donate BDS$2.
Speaking about her brainchild and the fight against non-communicable diseases, Lashley said, “As Miss World Barbados, I believe that too many are affected and afflicted by non-communicable diseases which is impacting negatively on our government’s health bill. Many persons today have diabetes and Barbados is considered the capital amputee nation in the world. Those statistics are really dreadful, so I believe that once we could bring enough awareness and education to persons in Barbados about the impact non-communicable diseases is having on their lives, then we will be on a mission to eradicate the whole issue of non-communicable diseases.”
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
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