MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – Stakeholders at New Forest High School have expanded the scope of impact from the institution’s annual 5K run/walk, with proceeds now set to support three key priorities: campus infrastructure expansion, athletic program development, and a new staff wellness initiative amid rising rates of illness among faculty. Board Chair Trisha Williams-Singh announced the updated fundraising goals during Sunday’s second staging of the popular community event, marking a decade since the school first opened its doors.
As the 10-year-old institution continues to grow to meet student demand, the bulk of this year’s race proceeds will go toward constructing a long-awaited on-campus auditorium and upgrading the school’s existing sports programs. In a new addition to the event’s mission, a portion of funds will also be allocated to launch the New Forest High Staff Welfare Fund, a response to a sharp recent increase in reported illness among teaching and administrative staff.
Williams-Singh emphasized that the dual focus of the event aligns with the school’s core values of community care. “We are not just raising money – we are modeling healthy lifestyles for our students and our community, while also stepping up to support our own team when they need help,” she explained. “When members of our school family face health challenges, we want to be able to respond to their needs immediately, rather than leaving them waiting for support.”
The event has seen explosive growth in participation in just its second year, with registration numbers tripling from the 2023 staging to hit roughly 500 registered attendees this year. Williams-Singh noted that the outpouring of support extended beyond students and parents, with official delegations from local government agencies including the National Irrigation Commission and Agro-Invest joining the race. The high participation comes as no surprise, she added, given the school’s location within a regional agro-park that ties the institution closely to local agricultural industry stakeholders.
Beyond the 5K fundraiser, the school is pushing to expand its academic offerings in agricultural science, a core focus of the 10-year-old institution. Williams-Singh said school leadership is advocating for approval to launch an Associate’s degree program in modern farming, to equip students with cutting-edge skills for the evolving agricultural sector. “Agriculture is not the same industry it was a generation ago,” she said. “We need to teach our students the new techniques and technologies that are shaping farming today, so they can build successful careers in this critical sector.”
Garfield Green, Custos of Manchester, praised the school and its leadership for their proactive approach to community engagement and student development, calling New Forest High a standout institution in the parish. “This is one of the schools in Manchester I am most proud of,” Green said. “I have worked closely with them for years, and what stands out most is not just their commitment to academic excellence – it is the discipline and character they instill in every student. We have to commend the leadership, students, and parent body for building such a strong institution.”
Omar Robinson, an educator and People’s National Party Councillor for the Alligator Pond division, echoed Green’s positive assessment, noting that community-focused fitness events like the 5K fill a critical need across Jamaica. The event, held just days after the national Jamaica Moves Day celebration of physical wellness, reinforces the growing push to address alarming rates of lifestyle-related disease across the country. “Events like this don’t just raise money for a good cause – they send ripples of positive change through the whole community,” Robinson said. “Physical fitness is a core part of long-term health, and we need to see these kinds of initiatives in every corner of Jamaica. We are facing growing lifestyle health challenges across the country, so every step we take to encourage healthy habits matters.”