Never doubt that a small group of committed people can ….. stage a marathon!
One of my favourite quotations is from Margaret Mead, the anthropologist: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world: indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”
I was reminded of this on the weekend as I volunteered for the Reggae Marathon. 10 or so years ago, a small group of people decided to stage a marathon in Jamaica. They were, and remain committed to a number of things:
- The promotion of wellness and healthy living
- The development of long distance running in Jamaica. Despite, and perhaps because of its long tradition of excellence at the sprint athletic distances, up to recently distance running has not been particularly popular with Jamaican athletes
- The promotion of Jamaica as a destination that is more than “sun, sand and sea”
Spurred by the success of the initial staging of the Reggae Marathon in 2001, this small group, known at the Jamdammers Running Club, has organized itself to stage the Reggae Marathon every year since then. The group is not motivated by financial reward, for there is none. Each year, it is an uphill battle to mobilise financial, physical and human resources. There is one full-time, year round employee. Everyone else is a volunteer. The only thing keeping this group together and motivated is their passion and commitment to the cause of running, health and Jamaica. And that is more than enough.
And how has the Reggae Marathon changed the world? Prior to the event, the hotel occupancy in Negril in the first weekend of December was about 20%. Now, one can hardly find a room – occupancy is near 100%. Craft vendors, taxi drivers, restaurant operators, farmers all experience increased business, as the event is a stimulus for economic activity far beyond the race itself.
Each year, a number of charities benefit, as entrants commit to raising funds by running the marathon. Our local charity partner in 2008 was the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, and organization committed to the reduction of the incidence of heart disease in Jamaica. We also had runners from Joints In Motion of Canada who raised funds for the Arthritis Society of Canada, and the Yellowbird Reggae Runners, a group of travel industry professionals who raise funds to contribute to the development of their favourite travel destinations. People who have never heard of the Reggae Marathon will benefit from the funds raised by these organizations
And then, there are the personal goals and dreams. For Burt Carlson, it was to compete his 301st marathon at 83 years old. For Phillip Lawrence, it was to complete his 100th marathon. For Dean Sirjue, it was to celebrate his 50th birthday with his closest friends. For many others, it was to push their bodies beyond what they thought possible and complete a race.
The Reggae Marathon is an event where dreams really do come true, where lives are changed. And when one life changes, the whole world changes. All because of a small group of committed people.
Tags: health, Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Jamaica, Joints in Motion, Margaret Mead, Negril, personal goals, Reggae Marathon, tourism, Yellowbird Reggae Runners
