The Bustamante Hospital for Children and other paediatric wards across the island will benefit from new equipment shortly, as Pan Caribbean Financial Services, with matching donations from the National Health Fund (NHF), made good on its target on Sunday, raising $14.25 million at the 11th staging of the annual Sigma Corporate Run.

Tanya Miller, vice-president of marketing and new product development at Pan Caribbean Financial Services, stated that it was an incredible show of support and it was good to see the outpouring of support for the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

"The $14.258 million will allow us to purchase key equipment for the hospital and, in a small way, improve the quality of health care for our children," Miller said. "The feedback has been very positive and persons have stated that they had a great time."

Over 9,500 individuals, including 3,794 runners, 5,745 walkers and 11 wheelchair participants, made their way around the five-kilometre (3.1 mile) course.

Male and female titles

A Kingston College schoolboy, 19-year-old Dwayne Powell, and 15-year-old Sherene White took the overall male and female titles. Powell clocked 18 minutes and 25 seconds, beating Horace Burey who came second in 18 minutes 50 seconds and Wilfred Wilson who placed third in 19 minutes flat.

Sherene White, who placed third in 2008, made amends this year and recorded 21 minutes and 46 seconds to beat Mashere Harrison from the Social Development Commission (SDC) team, with 21:48, and Kimberly Reid with 22:06.

Andrew Newell took the male walk title in 33 minutes and 37 seconds while Danielle Murray was also fast on her feet, clocking 35 minutes and 23 seconds for the female crown.

The wheelchair-male title went to defending champion David Christie, while Paralympian Vinette Green secured the female trophy.

The under-16 male crown was won by 15-year-old Leicester Beech while White took the double, landing the under-16 title.

Mashere Harrison, with a time of 21:48, beat Jacqueline Anderson, of Red Stripe for the female corporate run, while Wilfred Wilson of the Urban Development Corpora-tion stopped the clock at 19 minutes flat, beating Allan Beckford of Jamaica National for the male crown.

Executive management run

However, Beckford cruised home in the executive management run, beating Sherlock Glenister of National Land Agency and Marc Melville of Tropical Battery Company.

Nyasaha Heaven of the Financial Services Commission took the female corporate walk, while Cecil Nuefville of JP Tropical Foods snared the male corporate walk title.