A number of prizes, including two round-trip tickets to New York, will be up for grabs as Butterfield & Vallis hold its annual 5k race on Sunday, January 21.

This year’s race comes in the year that Butterfield & Vallis celebrate 100 years in business, with the Bermuda Heart Foundation being the recipients of the race proceeds. The race will launch their Heart Month events next month.

The New York Presbyterian Hospital, in conjunction with the Bermuda Heart Foundation, have donated the main draw prize of two round-trip tickets, a two-night stay at the Helmsley Tower hotel and two tickets to a Broadway show. There will also be a draw for two pedal bikes from Winners Edge and Sportseller vouchers.

The races will start at 8.30am, with a new 1k race for lower primary students, followed at 9am by the primary and middle school boys’ and girls’ races over a 2.7k course.

A prize of $500 will be awarded to the primary, middle and secondary schools with the most entries, while there will also be a corporate prize for the company with the most entries. BF&M are donating Fitbits to all category winners.

The secondary schools and adult 5k races will start at 9.30am, the walkers starting five minutes after the runners.

Stephen Allen and Gayle Lindsay are the men’s and women’s defending champions. Allen won a fifth title last year while Lindsay claimed her first title after Jennifer Alen, the defending champion, collapsed a ¼mile from the finish line after leading the race.

Volunteers from the Bermuda Heart Foundation will be assisting with the race, marshalling the course and manning the water stops.

The organisers are also holding a jump rope demonstration by the Bermuda Jump Rope Federation.

The first 1,000 participants will receive a commemorative goodie bag filled with products, a dri-fit shirt courtesy of New York Presbyterian Hospital and a commemorative medal. All prize winners will receive a gift certificate and a commemorative glass mug.

Entry forms are available at the Sportseller, both Butterfield & Vallis locations and online at www.bv.bm Online registrations are on www.racedayworld.com

Paper entries close on Wednesday, January 17 at 4.45pm and online entries at 5pm on Friday, January 19.

Late registration and number pick-up will be on Saturday, January 20 from 10am to 2pm at Butterfield & Vallis on Woodlands Road.

For more details contact Terri Durrant at Butterfield & Vallis at 236-6688 or e-mail at terridurrant@gmail.com