Students making a head start in the 3km run.
Charity run attracts 10,231 participants, enters Malaysia Book of Records
KUCHING: The 10,000-people Charity Run 2015 organised by Committee of Management of Kuching Chung Hua Middle School (CHMS) No.1, 3 and 4 has entered the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the most number of participating students at 10,231.
Thousands of students, parents and Chinese education supporters joined the run, divided into 3km, 5km and 10km categories and co-organised by Committee of Management of Kuching Chung Hua Primary School (CHPS) No.1 to 6 to do the city proud.
Most of the participants assembled at the Jubilee Ground before 6am. Prior to the flag-off for all categories, runners had a 10-minute warm-up led by a team of youngsters.
Mayor of Kuching South Datuk James Chan gave a brief speech before performing the flag-off from 6.20am for the 10km runners, and every subsequent 10 minutes for participants of 5km and 3km runs.
Describing Kuching as the best city in Malaysia, Chan said it was thrilling to witness a sea of people donning pink shirts for the run towards helping Chinese schools. He asserted this was one of the events which portrayed how Kuchingites could be brought together for a mutual cause.
“If you all put your mind together, you can achieve anything. With one voice, one body, one unity and one understanding, we can work together for further progress.
“You people are the best. And I want you all to enjoy yourselves this morning.”
A little past 7am, some top runners already made it to the finishing line. Clement Jong, 11, from CHPS No.3, came in as the first finisher for the 3km category.
Met by The Borneo Post, Jong said he ran with all his might from the starting line. The little champion was not panting at all upon completing the run.
“I am a state badminton player. I took part in a tournament in Sabah this year,” he said, adding that the first and second runners-up of the same category were his cousins – Darrell Ong, 11 and Dexter Ong, 9, both from CHPS No.4.Jong was quick to add that all three of them were badminton players, who underwent training on a regular basis.
“We attend a running session every Saturday besides the training for badminton,” said the grinning boys. Before 8am, almost all runners were done with the run and started gathering in and around the ground for entertainment staged by DJs of Tea FM as well as local artistes including Chow Kam Leong.
When Tea FM DJs jointly presented songs on stage, mayor Chan cheered for them by encouraging the crowd to give a few rounds of applause. Chow, who hails from Peninsular Malaysia, sang a couple of songs with his guitar. The mayor, again, spurred the crowd to have fun by doing a little dance next to Chow.
Chairman of Committee of Management of CHMS No.1, 3 and 4 Richard Wee delivered a speech before Housing Minister and Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg arrived at the ground for prize presentation.
According to Wee, although the official record was 10,231 student participants, the total participation exceeded the figure as some of them did not register with the organisers.
“We raised a total of RM728,358 for this year’s run. We are all here for Chinese education, and this charity run will not be a success without the concerted efforts of you all.”
He added the last time both committees organised a similar run was in 2013.
As Abang Johari made it to the event at 8.30am, the organisers invited him to sign on an unofficial record which certified that the charity run was listed in the MBR.
Meanwhile, Amber Ji from CHPS No.2 emerged champion in the primary school category for raising RM5,100. She walked away with a Kuching-Taipei return ticket.
Brendan Goh and Ernest Chung, both from CHPS No.4, were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Goh collected RM3,801 and earned himself a Kuching-Bangkok return ticket while Chung, who raised RM1,700 was awarded a Kuching-Penang return ticket.
For the secondary school category, Lee Wei Tze raised RM2,275 to be named the top winner. Second and third place winners Jong Zhe Hao and Francis Wong collected RM1,171 and RM550 respectively.
Lee, who won a Kuching-Taipei return ticket, Jong (a Kuching-Bangkok return ticket) and Wong (a Kuching-Penang return ticket) are all from CHMS No.1.
Headmistress of CHPS No.1 Choo Chin Moi brought home a mountain bike for raising RM2,644, the highest amount in the staff category.
