FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE: Participants trying their best to finish the race.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng threw a challenge to participants of the 2012 edition of The Borneo Post Run to bring friends and relatives next year to make the annual competition a grander affair.
Speaking to a crowd of more than 800 people at Sibu Town Square Phase 1 yesterday, Ngieng suggested that each participant bring along a friend to surpass the target of 1,000 participants set for 2013.
“If all of us can commit ourselves to come back next year and bring along one friend or relative, we will be able to get 1,600 participants,” he said in his closing remarks, expressing confidence that the organiser would be able to achieve the desired feat.
Chief operating officer of See Hua group Temenggong Vincent Lau had earlier in his opening remarks said they planned to improve on the 10km run, making it bigger and targeting 1,000 runners. To this, Ngieng added: “I am confident they can do it and hope that they will continue to organise the run, making it part of the town’s activities to bring the people together.
“And I must also congratulate the organiser of the BP Run for a job well done. The number of runners had increased substantially from over 700 last year to more than 800 this year. This is a very positive development.”
The popular run is into its second year and had received very encouraging response from members of the public, including those from outstation.
Ngieng, who is also the guest-of-honour, noted the run had caught the eyes of outstation runners, even a New Zealander- Grace Boon.
He said the run had provided an opportunity for people from all walks of life to converge and join in the fellowship.
This he went on to say would further strengthen the social cohesion among the people.
“The run will help create better awareness on health while allowing us all to have an opportunity for fellowship,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Ngieng motivated participants to make the best of what they had.
Meanwhile, at 7.30am yesterday Lau and Ngieng jointly flagged off the run. The run climaxed with a lucky draw where 30 lucky winners walked away with attractive prizes.
Despite exhausted from the 10km run, the jovial mood of participants engulfed the town square and thunderous applause could be heard whenever a lucky draw number was read out.
Yeo Hiap Seng Trading Sdn Bhd sponsored the drinks. The lucky draw prizes were sponsored by KTS-Gree, Kinetic Food Trading Sdn Bhd and Yeo Hiap Seng Trading Sdn Bhd.