Howard Britton (right), shows how the Sagicor Sigma app works, via smartphone, to Jomi Spencer (left) Sagicor's project officer, and Diane Ellis, Reggae Marathon sponsorship director, at the press launch. - Jermaine Barnaby

LEIGHTON LEVY, STAR Writer

Participants in this year's Sagicor Sigma Corporate 5k Run/Walk, to be held on Sunday, February 22, will be able to track their race progress and share their respective experiences on social media, courtesy of a Sigma Run application developed by BSocial.

The marketing company incorporates social marketing into natural business campaigns and promotional activities to build engaged audience experience. It is run by twin social-media gurus, Horace and Howard Britton.

"The app allows (you) to record and share your progress during the race. You are able to sign up with Facebook and able to share with all social-media platforms," said Howard Britton.

"You can have your friends cheer you on during the run and at the end of the run."

The app is available on Google Play and iTtunes. Howard Britton said patrons who download it have the option of doing the route before the Sigma Run, and test the app to see how fast they can complete the route, and share it Facebook, or other social media platforms.

At least 10,000 persons are expected to download the app prior to the event, which is expected to attract more than 20, 000 participants and raise an estimated $25 million, from which the Cornwall Regional Hospital's Neonatal Unit and the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation (JKKF) are expected to benefit.

The brothers had been working on the app for months before they were approached by Sagicor to develop an app for the Sigma Run.

"They (Sagicor) wanted a way for persons to get involved on social media and share the message. We figured we could use a platform in iOS and Android to record the route and have persons say what Sagicor is all about," Howard said.

"Persons who will not be able to make the run this year can get on to social-media platforms and see what other persons are doing, so next year they can join in on the fun."