Guardian Life Limited, through the Guardian Group Foundation, hosted the ceremonial handover of proceeds from the 2025 SHINE (Securing Hope for those In Need) 5K Run/Walk. A total of $25 million was raised, with $22.5 million presented to the two major beneficiaries — the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) and the Noel Holmes Hospital (NHH) to support the acquisition of critical medical equipment and supplies. The third beneficiary, Project STAR, received $2.5 million as part of a four-year commitment to advance community-based social and economic transformation initiatives across Jamaica.

The handover follows the successful staging of the SHINE 5K in May, where over 7,000 people in Kingston and Montego Bay participated in the night run/walk to raise funds for healthcare resilience and social impact. With Jamaica still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa, the contributions have taken on even deeper significance.

The Bustamante Hospital for Children, which will receive $11.6m, expressed profound appreciation for the investment in strengthening its emergency care capacity. Dr. Michelle-Ann Richards-Dawson, Senior Medical Officer, described the moment as one of renewed hope: “The event brought fresh and renewed hope to our hard-working, dedicated A&E team at the only Paediatric Accident & Emergency Department in the country. Many of our patients present critically ill — from trauma, respiratory illnesses, asthma, seizures, dengue, gastroenteritis and more. Today, I stand on behalf of the BHC A&E doctors, nurses and all our team members to express our gratitude to Guardian Life and the Jamaican people who came out in their numbers to support the cause.” She noted that in 2024, BHC’s A&E Department saw over 52,000 patients, with more than 8,000 admissions, underscoring the urgency of the support.

Dr. Richards-Dawson highlighted how the donation will bolster readiness, especially following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact: “Little did we know that Jamaica would be ravaged by a Category 5 hurricane. With the impact greatest on the western half of the island, we are reminded daily that we are our brother’s keepers. All the funds raised for the BHC A&E will purchase well-needed equipment that will significantly improve how we manage seriously ill patients who require resuscitation and active monitoring.”

Noel Holmes Hospital will receive $10.9m to purchase essential monitoring, imaging and respiratory-care equipment, including a high-capacity Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to stabilize power for its Digital X-ray Machine.

Ms. Princess Wedderburn, CEO of NHH, shared her gratitude: “We are honored to receive this UPS, which will support our Digital X-Ray Machine — a critical piece of equipment that enables us to diagnose and treat patients quickly, safely, and accurately. It ensures stability and reliability, even during unexpected power interruptions which are frequent on our side of the country.”

In delivering remarks, Mrs. Meghon Miller Brown, President of Guardian Life Limited, affirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Jamaica’s health infrastructure: “Each year, SHINE is more than a run. It is a community-driven movement powered by purpose. Today, that purpose comes to life in a tangible way.”

She underscored that the investments are not just timely, but essential: “In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, our nation’s healthcare infrastructure was tested. Resiliency is not optional — it is essential. The items we are funding today directly strengthen that resiliency.

Guardian Life remains deeply committed to playing an active role in building a stronger, healthier, more resilient Jamaica.”