Stewart Family Buoyed by Massive Support for Jill Stewart Mobay City Run

Montego Bay, Jamaica – The spirit of resilience and community shone brightly as thousands turned out for the annual Jill Stewart Mobay City Run. This year's event was particularly poignant, honoring the legacy of Jill Stewart, a beloved figure who succumbed to cancer in 2023. Her husband, Adam Stewart, executive chairman of the Sandals Group, and their son, Aston Stewart, participated, with Aston walking the route despite a knee injury.

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It’s great, very nice to see all the people that came and how it’s growing every year, we really appreciate it.

The sheer scale of the event, with over 10,000 people on the roads, was a powerful display of support. Adam Stewart expressed his overwhelming gratitude, noting that the turnout was significantly larger than previous years, which already boasted impressive numbers. "It's overwhelming, I've never seen so many people on the road at one time, hugely bigger than last year and last year we had 7,000 registered participants and more than 10,000 on the road," he stated.

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It really is a lot of fun, it’s good.

What makes this year's run even more remarkable is its occurrence just months after Montego Bay was battered by Hurricane Melissa. The massive participation serves as a powerful message of defiance and unity. "Coming off the back of Hurricane Melissa, this is just a testimony that nothing can break us in Montego Bay or Jamaica," Adam Stewart declared. This sentiment highlights a uniquely Jamaican perspective – a deep-seated strength and ability to come together in the face of adversity, a narrative that resonates deeply within the local community and is often underappreciated in international coverage.

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It’s awesome to see it grow every year and I would definitely encourage more young people to join up.

The event not only commemorates Jill Stewart's life and her passions for health and education but also serves as a vibrant symbol of Montego Bay's enduring spirit. The organizers, including Janet Silvera, Mayor Richard Vernon, and the police force, were all lauded for their efforts in making the run a resounding success, further underscoring the collaborative effort that defines the community's strength.

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The family and I are just overwhelmed by the love and the support, and her legacy continues to be inspiring to people through health and academics. She was a trained teacher, and those were her two passions and loves.