The third annual Workforce Fun Run Walk will set in motion Caribbean Wellness Day activities on Friday, September 9.

The walk begins and ends at the Bandstand in Long Bush. Registration starts at 3:30 p.m. and the walk begins at 4:00 p.m. sharp. Coordinator for Health Promotion Services and Focal Point for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Ms. Ivy George said, “This year we want to see numbers like we have never seen.  We want to encourage both the private and public sectors to pull their groups together.”

Ms. George said that participants have a few incentives to look forward to, stating, “The group with the most participants will receive $500 for the charity of their choice. Also, because we are going green, the first 200 people to register will receive free water bottles, and others are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles.”

“Move Your Body and Get Ready for Life is one of our slogans this year because we want to send a clear message that regular physical activity is an important prerequisite for vibrant heath and a protective factor in delaying and/or preventing common NCDs. Exercising and healthy lifestyle choices will promote healthy outcomes as we in the Region continue to battle the NCD epidemic,” said Ms. George.

Ms. George explained that the activities are a collaborative effort of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Health and Social Development and the BVI Olympic Committee.

The Workforce Fun Run Walk is coordinated by the Physical Activity/ Physical Literacy subcommittee of the Virgin Islands National Health and Wellness Committee. The role of this subcommittee is to coordinate, advocate and implement activities to increase the percentage of persons in the population engaging in regular physical activity in adults.   

Caribbean Wellness Day is an annual event which was launched in 2008 to raise the profile of non-communicable diseases which continue to severely and adversely impact the health, economy and development of the Caribbean.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is committed to improving the health and well being of the population and reducing the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases to improve health and save lives.