Passion of a Champion: Security Guard donates the bike he won in Police Officer's Club 5K

At thirty-six years old, Ryon Chambers is defying the odds and proving daily that it doesn’t matter what your circumstances are or have been and it doesn’t matter where you live. All that matters is where you are going.

Born in Waterhouse, St. Andrew, Chambers lived with his mother and his brother. His father, he said would visit occasionally. At age six, he and his brother were sent to a Children’s Home located on Windward Road because they were consistently disorderly and disruptive and their mother was unable to control them both. His stay at the Children’s Home was short lived however as he ran away from the home. Months later, Chambers found home in Strathmore Garden’s Children’s Home, St. Catherine. That again was another short lived stay for him. At age 8, he was transferred to the Swift Purcell Boys Home in St. Mary. Here he attended the Bellfield All-Age School and stayed until he was 14 years old. But the constant move between Children’s Home for Chambers was not done yet. He moved to Manning’s Boys’ Home in Southfield, St. Elizabeth at age 14 where he described life as challenging.

The home had various rules and regulations that they had to live by and there were codes of conduct which they all had to adhere to. But as an incorrigible young boy he constantly got into fights at times with other boys at the home. Despite being rebellious, he continued to go to church while attending school at Mayfield All-age and would work in the cane fields and banana walks. It was during his time at the Manning’s Boys’ Home that he decided to change his troublemaker ways and that he did.

Little did Chambers know that this change in his behaviour would have led to him developing and honing his skills as a long distance runner. At age 14, he won his first race as a competitor in a 5K road race put on by the Manning’s Boys’ Home. Following this, his potential was spotted by a coach as being a promising long distance runner. But this talent would not have developed in St. Elizabeth as Chambers, would later move back to living with his mother in Waterhouse after spending a year the Mannings’ Boys’ Home. He matriculated to the Denham Town High School and played cricket and football and tried out for track team at the school. His mother was unable to finance his education at Denham Town High School however so at age seventeen he left without graduating and sought employment.

Bascho provided him with his first job at the age of eighteen. From there he moved on to working at a gas station and then to working as a security officer. For nineteen years, Mr. Chambers had abandoned his passion for running but after the birth of his first born, a son, in 2012 he decided to return to world of long-distance racing. In 2013 Chambers moved employment to Hi-Lyte, the energy drink company, and entered the 5th annual GraceKennedy Education Run 5K, breaking his road race drought. He placed 10th, to the shock and awe of friends and colleagues. He said that is how he got the boost and encouragement to continue.

Since then he has participated in the Reggae Marathon, Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, Tru-Juice Cross Country 5K, Tru-Juice Run for Your Cause, The Good Samaritan Health Run/Walk, Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica, Kidney Support Foundation of Jamaica (KSFJ) and the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring's (KCCS) 5K Run/Walk just to name a few. Chambers, who is a part of the We Got The Runs, fitness club where he also trains was encouraged by the President, Andrew Walcott to enter the 21st staging of the Jake’s Off-Road Triathlon. The event, which took place last month saw Chambers finishing 4th in the team section, 3rd as the fastest runner, 7th as the fastest rider and 6th overall. This is the first time Mr. Chamber was entering a triathlon.

Last Saturday, Chambers struck again winning the Law Enforcement Agencies 5K Run/Walk finishing with a time of 16:38.51. He won a bike, two trophies and a gift basket. This morning Chambers donated the bike to the patrol team at Sentry Services Security Company at UTECH, an act which he says he was moved to do, out of a passion for the work they do in protecting the students at the school. As a former employee of the company, the bike was also a thank you gesture. What is even more heartwarming is that Chambers was looking to purchase a brand new bike a week before, as cycling is his main mode of transport.  This new bike was the answer to his prayers, but something told him that the security team at UTECH needed it more than he did.

Chambers has a deep passion for road race and during the interview he left a distinct impression that running is the passion of his life. He also expressed thanks to Hi-Lyte Sports Drink for their continued investment in him and sponsoring his training and participation in these various road races.

Chambers, who can be spotted riding his bicycle around town encourages young people to take part in healthy lifestyle decisions, such as staying away from fast food, running and exercising more. He, currently works at Advanced Integrated Systems as a security guard, and trains on his day offs.

For more information call call andrew@marketmeja.com or call 412-7475