People of various ages and backgrounds participating in the MRCS Sabah’s first ever Charity Run for Humanity.
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sabah branch’s first Charity Run for Humanity held yesterday recorded 2,400 participants, exceeding the target.
Organising chairman of the run cum MRCS vice chairman Wong Hock Phin when met after the run at the finishing line at the Likas Stadium, said that the organisation aimed to make the run an annual event.
He also disclosed that youngest participant of the 10-kilometre run was a three-year-old and the oldest was 70 years old, “including myself, I’m 70,” said Wong.
Flagged off by the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at 6.25am at the Likas Stadium, here, participants ran along the scenic Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens – or better known as Tanjung Lipat – round the Yayasan Sabah roundabout, before making their way back to the Likas Stadium.
MRCS Sabah branch targeted to raise RM100,000 from the run which would be used for various activities, including upgrading the society’s facilities such as its hostel and equipment.
“We do get funding from the government every year of about RM120,000 but this is, plainly speaking, not enough,” said MRCS organising secretary Elizabeth Sikayun.
She also said the run was jointly supported by Kota Kinabalu City Hall, Sabah Amateur Radio Society, Kinabalu Running Club and the police.
MRCS chairman Asirin Abd Kadir said the run was also part of the society’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle to the community and to reach out to the community as caring volunteers.