FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JADCO DISTRIBUTES OVER 500 BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS DURING 2026 ROADSHOW
Kingston, Jamaica – September 3, 2026: The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) distributed over 500 back-to-school items to students in St. Thomas and Portland while taking its ‘Clean Ride, Win With Pride’ message directly to student-athletes and their support personnel.
The Commission staged its fourth annual roadshow on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Rudolph Elder Park in St. Thomas and Port Antonio Square in Portland. Scores of students, parents, student-athletes and other community members participated in the two events, which combined anti-doping education with entertainment, interactive activities and practical assistance for families preparing for the new academic year. School bags, lunch bags, water bottles, exercise books, notebooks, notepads and pencil cases were among the items distributed.
The roadshow forms part of JADCO’s islandwide public education campaign aimed at promoting clean sport and increasing awareness of the health, ethical and career consequences associated with doping. Held annually during the back-to-school period, the initiative allows the Commission to reinforce its anti-doping message while responding to the practical needs of students and families.
Executive Director of JADCO, June Spence Jarrett, said the initiative demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to supporting communities while encouraging athletes to rely on discipline, natural ability and hard work.
“We understand what is happening with parents and communities and, in addition to that, we are spreading the message of ‘No Dope to Cope’. It has been tremendous. We had a lot of children and adults who came out and participated in the different activities. I think the children and the parents had a great time,” she said.
Spence Jarrett said the turnout also demonstrated that JADCO’s work extends beyond the testing of athletes.
“It was amazing to see how many people turned out, from parents and teenagers to small children, and I can assure you that every person received something,” she said.
“JADCO is not only about testing athletes. We are also involved in community life, and it was encouraging to see people embracing the message, ‘Clean Ride, Win With Pride’. It was particularly amazing to hear from a little girl from Titchfield [High School] who was able to tell us exactly what that message meant.”
Spence Jarrett encouraged athletes to take pride in their accomplishments by competing fairly and without the use of prohibited substances. “Whatever you do, do it well. You don’t need dope to cope. When you win, you win with pride because you have not taken any substances that would enhance your performance,” she said.
The Executive Director noted that JADCO is placing increased emphasis on reaching athletes at the primary-school level, recognising that many of Jamaica’s leading athletes begin participating in competitive sport at an early age. She said early education is essential to helping young athletes understand the values of fairness, integrity and personal responsibility before they advance to higher levels of competition.
“They need to know that they don’t need anything at all to enhance their performance. Jamaica is a winner,” Spence Jarrett said.
JADCO conducts annual school tours, workshops and educational sessions as part of its efforts to reach young people across Jamaica. The Commission is expanding its engagement with primary schools and is also seeking to strengthen its relationship with parents through Parent-Teacher Associations.
For families who turned out for the roadshow, the initiative provided more than an opportunity to learn about clean sport. For some parents, it also offered welcome relief from the rising cost of preparing children for the new school year.
Simone Hall, a resident of Rowlandsfield in St. Thomas, was among those who received back-to-school supplies during the event. “It will help a lot, and in these times things are expensive,” she said after receiving a school bag.
The sentiment was shared by Kenisha Gray Walker, who said the level of need among families in the parish made the initiative particularly timely. “Exactly what I am seeing here,” she said when asked what she had expected from the roadshow. “I know the kids will come out because there are a lot of needs in St. Thomas, and I am so glad and happy that this initiative came to St. Thomas so that the kids can be a part of it.”
For Walker, the event also demonstrated the importance of communities and organisations supporting those around them. “When you rise, it is also good to lift up each other,” she said.
Among the younger participants was Mini Miss St. Thomas Finest 2026, Caylee Francis, a member of the Police Youth Club from Rozelle in western St. Thomas. Francis said she was pleased to see children leaving the event better prepared for the start of the school year.
“I came here to see the joyful faces of the people having the ability to go back to school with all their supplies and being able to go and write, read and learn many new things while having the comfort of their own utensils,” she said.
She also highlighted the wider impact the distribution of school supplies could have on household expenses, saying JADCO’s assistance could allow parents to direct limited resources towards other education costs. “JADCO gave the parents an opportunity to also pay the children’s school fee and an opportunity to work hard,” Francis said.
Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Paul Thompson, welcomed JADCO’s continued efforts to promote clean sport and positive values among young people. He said public education and awareness programmes remain essential to protecting the integrity of sport in Jamaica.
“Now more than ever, it is critically important for us as a nation to reinforce the values of fairness, integrity, respect, discipline and ethical behaviour, not only in sport, but in all spheres of our professional and national life,” Councillor Thompson said.
He added that the roadshow’s theme, “Clean Ride, Win With Pride,” provided an important rallying call for athletes and the wider society. “The use of drugs and other unfair practices in sport is contrary to all that we believe in and have to promote to our nation. It is incumbent on us to continue to make clean sport a part of our national identity,” he said. Councillor Thompson urged Jamaicans to regard clean sport as more than an aspiration, describing it as an indispensable part of the country’s sporting culture.
Glenise Chung, a teacher at Portland Preparatory and High School, attended with five students who participated in the roadshow’s jingle competition. Chung, who wrote the jingle performed by the students, praised the quality and practicality of the items distributed. She said the supplies, including school bags and cups, were items children would need and use as they returned to the classroom.
The entertainment and educational components of the roadshow also provided students with an opportunity to participate creatively while learning about JADCO and its clean sport message.
For Claudia Gray, a resident of Ginger House in Portland, news of the event came through a flyer she spotted at the Portland Parish Library. She said residents were appreciative of the back-to-school initiative and encouraged JADCO to continue its outreach.
Media personality Jerry D, ‘The Vibe Master’, returned as host of the roadshow, engaging participants throughout the day and guiding the programme of educational activities, games, giveaways and entertainment. Through the initiative, the Commission reinforced the message that sporting success should be built on talent, preparation, discipline and fair play, rather than the use of performance-enhancing substances.
Spence Jarrett said the continued growth of the roadshow was encouraging and signalled JADCO’s intention to expand the initiative. “Every year it gets bigger and better, and next year it is going to be even bigger and better,” she said.
The Commission said it will continue taking its clean sport message into schools and communities as it works to develop a stronger culture of integrity among Jamaica’s current and future athletes.
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For More Information Contact:
The Communication & Education Department
Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission
commed@jadco.gov.jm
876-232-7087