In 2024, the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) was forced to postpone its yearly “Relay for Life” fundraiser event over unforeseen circumstances. However, at the Trio Bar and Grill on Wednesday, the organisation announced that this year’s hosting was completely on schedule with no issues holding them back.

The Relay for Life has been a near-constant staple in Jamaican society, being first hosted in 2003. This activity serves two purposes: The first is to provide a unique and fun way to raise funds for those combating cancer, and the second is to raise awareness of the plight of those suffering from and at risk of the disease.

Despite challenges, it persisted, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stanford Cocking, the current JCS Relay for Life Committee Chairman, said it was because of this that his staff viewed it so important to restart strong.

Cocking’s initial statements focused chiefly on the various patrons that, in his words, made the entire operation possible, in particular Supreme Ventures Limited and the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation. Special attention was also given to the media and their efforts to publicise JCS events. In his speech, Cocking described these groups and others as one of the keys to their success.

“Without you [the press] to sell our message, we wouldn’t be going anywhere…our sponsors wouldn’t support us, because they too want to know that we are successful and that they contributed,” Cooking said.

He took the opportunity to push back against the narrative that the JCS and the funds made from the ‘Relay for Life’ go solely to aiding elements of the upper class, or on personal projects not related to the fight against Cancer.”

“All we raise from Relay for Life goes to the screening for Prostate and Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and others…Out of Relay for Life we contributed to an International Fund that brought about the vaccinations of 20-year-olds to help prevent them from developing Cancer…We give back to help to cure,” he said.

The 2025 edition of the JCS Relay for Life is set to take place on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8. The venue will be at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road. The event will involve teams of up to 10 persons or more running or walking along a track relay style for the duration of the event. The exercise is meant to be a non-competitive, yet teambuilding activity, with participants from churches, businesses, schools and other groups all welcome.

For entry, each team member will be asked to pay an upfront registration fee of $1,500, after which an additional $5,000 is to be raised to support the Jamaica Cancer Society’s operations. These include screening for early detection and counselling, along with spreading awareness and facilitating greater outreach.