5,000 light up city in Monster Dash charity run

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Dr Sim flags off the ‘Monster Dash 4 – Light Up Edition 2017’.

Dr Sim flags off the ‘Monster Dash 4 – Light Up Edition 2017’.

KUCHING: About 5,000 people took part in ‘Monster Dash Charity Run 2017’, which was flagged off at iCOM Square here on Saturday night.

Entering its fourth year, the ‘Light Up Edition’ took over from the Halloween theme associated with the charity run in the previous three editions. However, the event still retained its core essence – instilling the spirit of charity in families, and for them to have fun doing charity.

The runners – the majority of whom were in white T-shirts – wore LED armbands from which the lights bathed the streets in funky neon colours as they ran.

The event’s objectives were to raise funds for Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) and Hope Place Kuching, to promote a healthy lifestyle to the people through healthy community events, as well as to provide social networking and volunteerism platform towards encouraging active participation from youths in any charitable cause.

The fourth edition also marked iCOM Square being the hosting venue for the second time.

The charity run was organised by Ouryouth.my – a social enterprise initiated by Conqueror’s Vision Sdn Bhd for the development of youths in Sarawak.

Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian led the flag-off ceremony, where he was accompanied by Ouryouth.my founder and director Dato Patrick Liew and Lea Group of Company managing director Raymond Sim.

In his opening remarks, Dr Sim expressed his gratitude to the organiser for the postponement of the event as a mark of respect to the passing of former chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

“We are really grateful for the postponement. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the organiser for organising the charity run for the fourth year,” he said, adding that the participants had gained double benefit by entering Monster Dash 4 – doing something for charity and practising a healthy lifestyle at the same time.

Meanwhile, Liew said it had always been Monster Dash’s unremitting goal to be the testimony of the city’s kindred spirits when it came to having a good time for a great cause.

He added that the charity fun run had also been receiving sponsorships from both government and corporate sectors every year.

“It has always been Ouryouth.my’s core vision to bridge the community. Through events such as this, so many parties can benefit. We hope that the partnerships would encourage more to come and work together, and create a greater impact for the development of the state,” he said.

Liew also said in reaching out to more youths this year, the organiser conveyed their appreciation to local colleges and universities who took the initiative to design and build the ‘light-up’ structures that would be displayed at iCom Square for a month.

Prior to the flag-off, runners and members of the organising committee observed a moment of silence to honour Adenan. There was also a lucky draw at the end of the run.

(Front, from left) Raymond, Liew, Dr Sim, Hope Kuching founder Kelvin Wan and Liew’s wife Datin Diana Tay join the runners for a quick photo-call before flag-off.

(Front, from left) Raymond, Liew, Dr Sim, Hope Kuching founder Kelvin Wan and Liew’s wife Datin Diana Tay join the runners for a quick photo-call before flag-off.

Runners undergo a warm-up session prior to the run.

Runners undergo a warm-up session prior to the run.