Ready, set, pink! Jamaica Reach to Recovery (JR2R) has officially launched the 25th anniversary of the Pink Run, rallying the nation to come together in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The annual event, a symbolic fixture on the national running calendar, is set for Sunday, October 26, 2025. Dubbed Reaching Hearts, Restoring Hope, JR2R announced a goal of raising J$25 million to provide life-saving support for breast cancer patients across Jamaica.

This year, JR2R is calling on 15,000 participants: families, survivors, corporate teams, and communities from across the island. In keeping with its theme of Reaching Hearts, Restoring Hope, the event is also extending a special invitation to wheelchair users, reinforcing the message that the fight against breast cancer is for everyone.

Sandra Samuels, President of JR2R, underscored the organisation’s mission, sharing, “Jamaica Reach to Recovery was formed on the belief that no woman should ever have to face breast cancer alone, or be denied support simply because she cannot afford it. From the beginning, our mission has been to stand alongside women and their families, offering emotional strength, financial assistance, and practical resources that help them navigate one of the most difficult journeys of their lives.

“Over the years, we have seen how life-changing it is when a survivor gives of her time and experience to help another woman through the same battle; that is the true spirit of Reach to Recovery. Our work is important because it reminds women that they are not forgotten, and that with the right care and support, survival is possible. Through the Pink Run, we are proud to be a catalyst for hope, for healing, and for the unity of a community that refuses to let breast cancer have the last word.”

The official launch, held at the S Hotel, brought together health leaders and advocates who underscored the importance of early detection, access to care, and community support. Speakers included Shermaine Robotham, Director of Health Promotion P.R. and Customer Care Division, National Health Fund; Roshane Reid-Koomson, Executive Director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, who reinforced the organisation’s ongoing fight against the disease, while Takese Foga, Director, Health Promotion and Education, Ministry of Health and Wellness, highlighted the Pink Run’s involvement in the MOHW’s Corporate Wellness Challenge. Adding a clinical perspective, Dr Hugh Anthony Roberts, Consultant General Surgeon at Kingston Public Hospital, presented on ‘The State of Breast Cancer in Jamaica’. 

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Taneisha Ingleton, Managing Director of HEART Trust/NSTA, who called on Jamaicans to unite in hope and action in support of patients and families navigating the breast cancer journey. Dr Ingleton shared, “Breast cancer is not just a medical diagnosis; it is a life-altering journey that affects the mind, body, and soul of patients and their families. Too many of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and even our fathers are touched by this disease, and the reality is that most Jamaicans know someone who has faced this battle. But what gives us strength is the power of unity and compassion. At HEART/NSTA Trust, our mission is to transform lives through training and empowerment. Today, we stand proudly with Jamaica Reach to Recovery, because we know that education, skills, and support are not only tools for national development, but also for resilience in the face of challenges like breast cancer. Together, we can turn fear into courage, isolation into community, and challenges into victories. When Jamaicans unite in hope and action, there is no battle too great for us to overcome.”

Over the past two decades, the Pink Run has grown into Jamaica’s flagship breast cancer fundraiser, channelling proceeds into treatment subsidies, surgeries, prostheses, diagnostic tests, counselling, and community support. In 2024 alone, JR2R, with the help of its sponsors, raised J$19 million, which directly funded biopsies, mammograms, ultrasounds, medication, prostheses, and other crucial care.

According to Dr. Roberts, breast cancer remains the number one cancer affecting women in Jamaica, the Caribbean, and across the world. Disturbingly, Jamaican women are being diagnosed at a younger age compared to their counterparts in the United States, with the median age of onset here being 52-54 years, almost a decade earlier than the US average of 60-63 years. He also highlighted that as many as one in every eight to twelve women face a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and nearly half of Jamaican patients are first diagnosed when the disease is already at stage 3 or 4. This is further compounded by the fact that 33-36% of local patients are under the age of 50, with a significant 16% younger than 40. These realities underscore that breast cancer in Jamaica tends to be more aggressive, with higher-grade tumours and a greater prevalence of triple-negative cancers, all pointing to the urgent need for early detection, awareness, and nationwide support. He also noted that only 8 out of 14 parishes offer access to mammography.

Founded in 1977 by breast cancer survivor Dr Denise Thwaites, Jamaica Reach to Recovery has, for 48 years, served as a catalyst for hope, healing, and restoring self-esteem. Today, JR2R remains a member of Reach to Recovery International, an affiliate of the Jamaica Cancer Society, and a registered charity organisation.

JR2R continues to build on the foundation laid by long-standing partners such as ICWI and Toyota Jamaica, whose years of generous support have helped shape the Pink Run into what it is today. With new and returning partners, JR2R looks forward to strengthening its impact even further. This year’s run will return to Emancipation Park, and up to launch date is being supported by S Hotel, Jamaica Observer, Catherine’s Peak, RJRGLEANER Communications Group, Summit Kingston, Suncity Radio 104.9FM, M Catering and Mother’s Bakery, Breast Health and Oncology Care Centre, JP Foods, Juici Patties, Creative Brands and Concepts, Kool 97 FM, Garrick Communications, The Village, Supreme Ventures Foundation, Proven Wealth, WIBISCO-Shirley, National Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, Totally Male Limited, Salada, Restaurants of Jamaica, National Health Fund, XKLUSIV Media Group Limited, Running Events Jamaica, Image Plus Consultants Limited, and The Ministry of Health and Wellness. Jamaica Reach to Recovery welcomes all potential sponsors, supporters of the cause to come on board for this event. 

Runners, walkers, rollers and families across Jamaica are encouraged to sign up and be part of a meaningful movement for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Registration opens September 1, 2025. Sign up online at www.pinkrunjm.com or in person at Summit Kingston. If you’re unable to participate in the run, you can still make a difference by donating at www.jareachtorecovery.com, and by calling 876-978-0375, or by visiting the Secretariat at 16 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5.