More accustomed to breaking records at high speed, sprint sensation Usain Bolt will slow his pace later this year with the staging of the 'Usain Bolt Walkathon'.
The event is being planned in partnership with Chain of Hope Jamaica to help raise funds towards the creation of a paediatric cardiac centre at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
The proposed centre, which is intended to help reduce the current backlog of children in need of heart surgery, received a major boost several weeks ago with a US$10-million contribution from telecommunications company Digicel, one of Bolt's major sponsors.
"I run really fast but the truth is that I'm a really slow walker," Bolt laughed during Sunday's launch at the Bustamante Hospital for Children for the event, which is scheduled for sometime in November this year.
Details of the event are yet to be ironed out, but it was announced at the press launch that the walkathon will take place later this year in the month of November and will take place over a 2.3km course, which is expected to start at Emancipation Park in New Kingston.
Bolt excited
Bolt, who pointed out that he will be asking his sponsors to contribute by paying for at least two surgeries, was excited to be involved with this initiative and explained why he decided to join the project.
"This partnership is very important and will help to protect the future of this country," Bolt said. "It's a big step for me. Over the years, I have been saying that kids are the future so when I was approached to do this, it was a real honour and I'm looking forward to continue doing my best to do what I can to help the kids."
"Growing up, I have seen a lot of kids struggle and so it's easy for me to give back and I will always try to find different ways to give back to the kids and to Jamaica as a whole," Bolt added.
150 children waiting
Of the 400-500 children who are born with congenital heart disease in Jamaica each year, at least half of them will need medical or surgical intervention or will face premature death. Over 150 children are on the waiting list for surgery at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
Charmaine Scott, paediatric cardiologist and chairperson of Chain of Hope Jamaica, said Bolt's support will help to pull even more corporate support towards the construction of the centre.
"We believe the best option is to have a centre that can allow us to mend our own children's hearts and that is going to demand a lot of money and herein the whole idea of Usain (Bolt) coming on board with his foundation will go a far way in getting the word out there and even getting other corporate sponsors to come on board," said Scott.
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