Mon | Jun 9, 2025

‘All we want is an opportunity’

Morris leads ‘Everyone’s a Winner’s’ bid to change the lives of the visually impaired

Published:Sunday | May 18, 2025 | 12:05 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
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From left (back row): Floyd Morris, patron of the Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run; Alfred ‘Franno’ Francis, race director at Running Events Jamaica; Nora Blake, manager at Jamaica Social Stock Exchange; and Diane Ellis, director at Running Ev
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From left (back row): Floyd Morris, patron of the Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run; Alfred ‘Franno’ Francis, race director at Running Events Jamaica; Nora Blake, manager at Jamaica Social Stock Exchange; and Diane Ellis, director at Running Events share a moment with Sheldon Cunningham, Grade 5 student at Salvation Army School for the Blind (front row) at the launch of the Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run on Wednesday at the Treehouse at Hope Zoo in Kingston.
Floyd Morris, patron of the Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run, in conversation with Daemion Mclean, chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, at the launch of the Best Dressed Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run on Wednesday at the Treehou
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Floyd Morris, patron of the Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run, in conversation with Daemion Mclean, chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, at the launch of the Best Dressed Everyone’s A Winner 3k & 5k Walk & Run on Wednesday at the Treehouse at Hope Zoo in Kingston.
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FLOYD MORRIS, director of the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of the West Indies and patron of this year’s Best Dressed Chicken’s ‘Everyone’s a Winner’ 3K and 5K Run/Walk, on Father’s Day, June 15, has sweetened the pot for this year’s staging.

Morris, the first blind member of the Jamaican senate and an advocate for disability rights, has committed $150,000 to the event, which is targeting over 2000 participants, with proceeds to go to the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) for eye surgeries, in particular, cataract surgeries for its members.

The former senator, who credits the JSB for making him the person he is today, will donate $100,000 to the general cause, while $50,000 will go to the father who brings out the entire family to participate in the event.

“I say to Jamaica, this is a worthy cause to which I am committed. They say put your money where your mouth is, and I say I am going to make a commitment of $100,000 to this venture.

“I am also going to make a commitment to a prize of $50,000 to the father who pulls out the entire family to come and run on June 15, because we want it to be a truly fun filled and rewarding event,” he told the gathering at the launch at the Hope Zoo.

He appealed to the public to turn out and support the event, pointing to the tremendous work the society has done over the years to give visually impaired Jamaicans a chance to be the best versions of themselves, stating that the contributions will be an investment in young men and women who are full of potential but are burdened by their visual struggles.

“You are embarking on an initiative to assist the blind and visually impaired persons to get an education. All we individuals with disability want is an opportunity so we can exercise our God-given talent. You invest in us and the returns will be guaranteed.

“You are making a social investment in Jamaica Society for the Blind and the returns on the investment will come through those young men and women with visually impairment who will do their exams, and the rest will demonstrate the successful investment you have made. I look forward to seeing you all on the day and I look forward to continued support for the Jamaica Society for the Blind,” said Morris, who lost his sight while still a student at St Mary High School.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) has come on board as partner to assist in managing and expanding the initiative’s impact.

The JSSE will manage and monitor funds raised through the event, while also placing the JSB’s project on its public platform to attract additional support.

This to ensure transparency, accountability and increased opportunities for public engagement.

“Our goal is to help maximise the potential for funding, so that beyond the monies raised at the event, others who are moved by the cause can contribute via the JSSE platform, as they will know in real time exactly how their support is being used to make a difference,” explained Nora Blake, manager of the JSSE.

The event, which is being organised by Running Events Jamaica, has been held annually since 2010 and has been a fixture on the Jamaican race calendar.

This year will feature the traditional 3K and 5K distances, with a special family-friendly focus – and a new generational prize for the top-performing grandfather-father-son team.

Best Dressed brand manager, Arielle Oliver, said it will be a great way for the family to celebrate on Father’s Day.

“We are really excited. This is our event, our race, and this road race is just another way to champion our message of health and family.

“We are about community upliftment and giving back. So all proceeds from this race will go to the Society for the Blind, as everyone should have the right to be able to achieve success,” she commented.

Managing director of Running Events, Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, is also appealing to organisations such as the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs to lend a hand with volunteers to assist the visually impaired through the race.

“We need volunteers to escort the blind persons on the route on race day. We are sending out a call to social entities like Kiwanis or Rotary clubs. If they can be a part of this and walk with the visually impaired persons, we would love that,” he said.

The race is scheduled to start at 6 a.m. at the entrance to Hope Gardens. To register, persons can visit runningeventsja.com.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com