The participants being flagged off at the starting line at 6.30am sharp.
MIRI: The first ever 10km ‘mini’ marathon, Miri Charity Run, held yesterday was a huge success with 1,182 people turning up at the Miri Marina Commercial Centre, all in green.
Flocking to the venue as early as 5.30am, the participants from Miri, Limbang, Bintulu, Sibu, Sri Aman, Kuching and Brunei were flagged off at 6.30am sharp by the event’s guest-of-honour, Datuk Sebastian Ting.
“Running a 10km route is no easy task. However, the young and old from all walks of life defied the impossible and came out in full force, in the name of charity.
“Even more so, when this event has successful raised a total of RM23,230 from the registration fees. Hence, everyone here should give themselves a pat on their shoulder for working hard to make it a reality,” Ting said in his speech.
Organised by Bulatan Park Runners Club (BPRS), the money raised was then donated to two charity organisations – Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) and Sarawak Cochlear Implant Foundation (SCIF).
“There has been a change of plan from our initial RM15 donation from each registration (RM50). Instead, we decided to cut down all our costs, and contribute more for the needy people,” BPRS president Tang Swee Ming disclosed.
Adding on, he revealed that RM5,000 would be contributed evenly to three schools – SMK Subis, Pei Min Middle School and SMK Chung Hua Miri.
Tang expressed his gratitude to the three schools for their support as 110 students from the schools participated in the run.
All participants of the nine categories – 10km Men’s and Women’s Open, 10km Men’s and Women’s Veteran, 10km Boys and Girls, 3.5km Junior Boys and Girls, and the 3.5km Open Fun Run – who successfully completed the run were eligible to receive a finisher medal each.
Meanwhile, top ten runners in all the categories received prizes including cash and hampers.
A highlight of the event was when six visually-impaired members of Miri Blind Centre Association, successfully completed the 3.5km Fun Run.
They were led by a trainer to ensure their safety.
The association’s chairman Yang Yik Kang said the participation of its members was a step taken to create greater awareness of visual-impairment issues.