Digicel/Cell Smart yesterday announced their alliance with the Kaieteur Cycling Club and the National AIDS  Programme Secretariat (NAPS) to stage a 20-lap race in the National Park on Sunday, February 14.

The race, the two companies said, is to build HIV/AIDS awareness and to encourage persons, especially youths, to have a healthy lifestyle and also to help improve cycling in Guyana.

The eventual winner of the event will pocket $30,000; the cyclist finishing second will get $25,000 while third through to sixth place  will take home $20,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respetively.

Moreover, there will be prizes for the first three Juniors and Open Veterans and prime prizes of $1,000 will be given on every lap while laps 5, 10 and 15 will have a special prize, compliments of Digicel/Cell Smart.

Cell Smart Country Manager David Atkinson noted that after witnessing the disease leaving a family in mourning for their loved one, his company felt compelled to make sure everyone knows about the dangers of the illness.

Director of the NAPS, Nazim Hussain lauded the company’s initiative and called it the trend setter for the rest of the private sector to follow. “This is indeed a bold step for Cell Smart to take the lead,”  Hussain noted and he urged other agencies besides those in the telecommunications business to follow the initiative. The NAPS Director also pointed out that they are gearing up for a hectic weekend starting from Saturday with a couples day of testing and a booth will be located in the National Park for athletes and spectators of the race to be tested and counselled.

Malcolm Sonaram, President of the Kaieteur  Cycling Club and Assistant Race Coordinator of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) said that his club was more than happy to collaborate with the two parties to host the event which he says has received the fullest support from the GCF.