PROMOTING PEACE: Tay (third right) and SGM Sarawak chairman Tan Chai Hong hold up the run’s T-shirt, while other committee members show the official towel.
KUCHING: About 2,500 participants will join the Run For Peace 2013 here on Sept 8.
Runners, dubbed as peace lovers, will assemble at the Taman Budaya Amphitheatre at 6am and be flagged off at 7am by Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
The 8km-route will take them through Jalan Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, Jalan Central Timur, Jalan Tan Sri Datuk William Tan, Jalan Pending, Jalan Padungan, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman and Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg before returning to the amphitheatre.
The non-competitive event is organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) and supported by the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
“The registered peace lovers will each get a T-shirt, a goody bag with towel, certificate of participation after the run as well as insurance coverage,” SGM Sarawak honourable secretary Tay Thing Swee told a press conference yesterday.
“However, even though the registration date has closed, we do encourage members of the public to join the run for fun, but they will not be getting the items that registered peace lovers are getting.”
Tay said the event will be held simultaneously nationwide as part of SGM’s efforts to promote a culture of peace in the community.
“This event aims to encourage youths and people from all walks of life to come together for the sake of peace, at the same time promoting an active and healthy personal and community lifestyle.
“SGM hopes that the event will inspire people and awaken them to the importance of taking action for peace and to create a culture of peace in their community,” he said.
He explained that while SGM Sarawak is organising the biennial community event for the first time, it began in Klang in 2005. The event spread to more areas in the country in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
“For Run For Peace 2013, a total of 53,000 peace lovers will gather at 14 locations nationwide on September 8.”
There will also be several side activities in conjunction with the run.
“We will have a mini exhibition titled ‘Seed of Hope’. There will also be a Peace Board where visitors can leave their messages of peace.
“Other activities include performances by SGM Sarawak youth members,” he said.
SGM is part of the global non-governmental organisation Soka Gakkai International, which promotes peace in society through cultural exchanges and humanistic education based on the life-affirming philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.
For more information go to www.sgm.org.my/rfp2013, the official Facebook page ‘Run For Peace 2013’, or call 082-332033.