Jamaica Cycling Association (JCA) president Vaughn Phang yesterday donated $800,000 to two charitable organisations, the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and the Rock House Foundation.

Both organisations were the beneficiaries of the Gatorade Ride for Life which took place on October 14 where 135 cyclists (six women and 129 men) rode from Kingston to Negril. The JCS received $500,000 while $300,000 went to the Rock House Foundation.

Phang said the money was raised through corporate sponsorship and individuals soliciting funds and that the JCA doubled last year's intake.

Subsidised screening

Administrative director of the JCS, Marva Lee, said the society will use the money to provide screening at subsidised costs and for its public education programme.

"This is where most of our focus is on because we really have to make the public aware of all the different types of cancers," she said.

The Rock House Foundation, the charitable arm of Rock House Hotel, a 35-room complex in West End Negril, focuses on upgrading schools and making the institutions more conducive to learning.

"We want to target the children and give them an opportunity to be self-sufficient because we think they are very vulnerable right now," said Peter Rose, president of the Rock House Foundation. Rose also revealed that since its inception in 2003, the foundation has donated US$500,000.

Fund-raising race

Phang, who also presented a Sandals weekend-for-two voucher to Angie Harris for collecting the most money, said the JCA plans to raise $1.5 million at the third staging of the Gatorade Ride for Life next year. He also encouraged persons to join as it is not a race but a fund-raiser.

"Anyone can participate, it's not just for professional riders," he said. "Most of the participants were everyday people who just happened to know how to ride."

Phang also said cycling at the National Stadium velodrome, which resumed last Sunday for the first time in five years, continues this Sunday beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Competition takes place in Under-17, categories one to four and Masters (Over-45). The races are being used as developmental meets which will culminate in a grand championship tentatively set for December 16 and 17.