Optima 5K Run/Walk
Every Step Builds a Legacy
The Ardenne Alumni Foundation Optima 5K Run/Walk is more than a race. It is a celebration of health, community, service and the enduring Ardenne spirit.
Guided by the school’s motto, Deo Duce Quaere Optima, With God as Guide, Seek the Best, the event brings together alumni, students, families, corporate partners, athletes and friends of Ardenne in support of initiatives that improve the lives of young people.
Under the banner “A Simple Act for a Significant Cause,” every registration, sponsorship and contribution helps the Ardenne Alumni Foundation advance its charitable mission.
Running for Wellness
The primary beneficiary of the Optima 5K is the Ardenne Alumni Wellness Centre, the Foundation’s flagship centennial project.
The planned state-of-the-art facility will provide a dedicated and welcoming space to support the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of Ardenne’s students and staff. It reflects the Foundation’s belief that academic excellence must be supported by strong systems of care, particularly as young people navigate increasing social, emotional and developmental pressures.
With Ardenne High School celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2027, the Wellness Centre is intended to stand as a lasting centennial legacy, honouring the generations who built Ardenne while investing in those who will carry its name into the future.
The estimated, just over JMD $80 million project is being advanced through the generosity of alumni chapters, year groups, corporate partners, individual donors and supporters of the Optima 5K Run/Walk. The Optima 5K Run/Walk will eventually become the main source of income to continue to maintain the Wellness Centre.
From an Idea to a Growing Tradition
Since its inaugural staging, the Optima 5K Run/Walk has grown into the Ardenne Alumni Foundation’s signature annual fundraising event.
The second staging, held on February 2, 2025, attracted 825 registered participants, with Garfield Gordon and Sheree Bryan emerged as the male and female winners of the 5K run.
The momentum continued with the third staging on February 1, 2026, when registration surpassed the event’s target of 1,000 participants. The event attracted runners, walkers, students, families, Olympians, corporate teams and supporters from across Jamaica and the wider Ardenne community.
Garfield Gordon successfully defended the men’s title, while first-time entrant Dandi Williams captured the women’s title. More importantly, the morning was marked by fellowship, positive energy and a shared determination to make a meaningful difference.
One Event, A Wider Impact
The 2026 Optima 5K Run/Walk demonstrated that the Ardenne spirit extends beyond the boundaries of the school.
Alongside its continued support for the Wellness Centre, the event assisted Westwood High School, Ardenne’s sister school, following extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa. A contribution of JMD $1.1 million from the proceeds of the event was presented to Westwood High to support its rebuilding and recovery efforts.
This act of solidarity reflected an important Ardenne tradition: seeking the best not only for ourselves, but also helping others to rise in times of need.
A Race for Everyone
The Optima 5K Run/Walk welcomes participants of different ages and fitness levels. Whether you are a competitive runner pursuing a personal best, a recreational walker supporting a worthy cause, an alumnus reconnecting with friends, or a corporate team promoting health and community involvement, there is a place for you.
Beginning and ending at Ardenne High School, the event provides an enjoyable and professionally managed race experience while giving participants an opportunity to return to the school grounds and become part of a growing tradition.
Participants may enter individually, form year-group or alumni chapter teams, participate as families, or represent their schools, clubs, workplaces and community organisations.
You do not have to be an Ardennite to participate. You simply need to believe in the power of education, wellness and collective action.
Why Your Participation Matters
When you register for the Optima 5K, you are helping the Foundation to:
- advance the construction and development of the Ardenne Alumni Wellness Centre;
- promote healthier lifestyles and greater awareness of physical and mental wellness;
- strengthen support systems for students and educators;
- respond to deserving educational and community causes;
- unite generations of Ardennites around a shared purpose; and
- build a meaningful legacy as Ardenne enters its second century.
Registration fees assist with the cost of staging the event, with any surplus directed toward the support of the building of the Ardenne Alumni Wellness Centre.
More Than Race Day
The Optima 5K Run/Walk is powered by the commitment of volunteers, sponsors, donors, alumni chapters, school administrators, students, race officials, community partners and friends of Ardenne.
There are many ways to become involved:
- register to run or walk;
- organise a year-group, family or corporate team;
- become an event sponsor or partner;
- volunteer before or during the event;
- sponsor the participation of students or community members;
- make a direct contribution to the Wellness Centre; or
- promote the event throughout your personal and professional networks.
Every act of support matters. Every participant adds energy to the movement. Every contribution brings the vision closer to reality.
Building Towards Ardenne’s Centennial
As Ardenne approaches its centenary, the Optima 5K represents the best of the school’s tradition — faith, excellence, service, perseverance and community.
The first 100 years gave us an extraordinary legacy. Through the Wellness Centre and the continued growth of the Optima 5K, we are helping to create a future of promise for the generations that will follow.
Join us as we run, walk and work together to build that future.
A Simple Act for a Significant Cause
Run with purpose.
Walk for wellness.
Give for the future.
Build the legacy.
For information about the next Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk, sponsorship opportunities, team participation or volunteering, contact:
Email: info@ardennealumnifoundation.org
Telephone: 876-213-1263
Location: Ardenne High School, 10 Ardenne Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica
Deo Duce Quaere Optima, With God as Guide, Seek the Best.
