It was simply the right fit — a decision thoughtfully made by the businesslike, eight-time Olympic medalist Veronica Campbell Brown to partner with and serve as ambassador for the Jamaica Hi5 5K Reggae Run/Walk, recently held at Miramar Regional Park in South Florida.
Graciously accepting the invitation from Consul General Oliver Mair and his coordinating team for the sixth staging of the event on May 10, 2025 (joining legendary reggae artists Sizzla and Ky-Mani Marley as race ambassadors), Campbell Brown recognized it as an opportunity not to be missed. She was convinced the event perfectly complemented VCB FIT — her growing activewear brand offering workout and casual gear, with a mission to empower the athlete in everyone.
The 43-year-old athletic icon — still a poster figure for fitness (smiling broadly while sharing stories of those who continue to encourage her to run) — is deeply committed to promoting health and wellness, especially for the everyday woman. “We have one body, and we need to be taking care of ourselves, so it’s important that we stay in shape.”
This commitment fuels her passion for mindset and mentorship. She explains that being mindful of your well-being naturally leads to motivation. That’s why last year she partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the VCB Foundation to stage a health and wellness fair at Vere Technical, her alma mater, with a second event planned for July this year.
She was impressed by the community’s response. “It was quite a turnout, and they were all really interested in their health.”
The event aligned with the Foundation’s mission, broadening its outreach. Inspired by her own journey and the support she received, Veronica Campbell Brown established the Foundation in 2011 to empower young women through education, mentorship, and health — uplifting underrepresented youth by providing essential resources for high school education and fostering self-worth through mentorship.
The health and wellness fair expanded the Foundation’s scope, setting the stage for her role as ambassador of the Hi5 event, where she provided gear for the top three participants and engaged with attendees throughout the day. She is pleased to see the diaspora actively engaged in health and wellness.
Her ambassador role continues to be a perfect fit, as she also expressed enthusiasm for being part of the Legend Experience as a VIP guest at the Michael Johnson Grand Slam athletic events held in Kingston and Miami. She supports such initiatives, noting, “It’s a way for athletes to be more visibly and financially stable.”
That’s what improving wellbeing looks like — a development, like the Hi5 event, that this distinguished Olympian believes is clearly the right fit.
