Wong (second right) and Tay (third right) jointly flag-off the run at Tun Zaidi Stadium.
SIBU: Secretary of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch, Jason Tay who represented deputy chairman of Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) Robert Lau Hui Yew, jointly flagged-off 800 participants at ‘Silent Run’ for the deaf in Tun Zaidi stadium here yesterday.
President of Sarawak Sport Deaf Association (SSDA) Albert Wong Tuong Chui said Sibu was the third leg of the event after Miri and Bintulu, and the last leg will be in Kuching on Sept 30.
He said the event aims to increase awareness on the plight of the deaf besides raising fund for the 20th national sport for the deaf (Sopma XX) from Oct 15 to 22 in Ipoh, Perak.
“We are targeting to raise a total of RM600,000 for the expenses of athletes to Sopma XX and to finance our activities and programmes until next year.
“Some of our athletes will be competing in Asia Pacific Deaf Games and Deaflympics,” he told the media after the flag-off.
Wong revealed that only 300 people are registered with SSDA though there are 1,000 with hearing impairment registered as less abled people (OKU) in Sarawak and 33,000
nationwide.
“Thus, I urge families to register hearing impaired members with our association so they may benefit from the various activities and programmes organised by the association,” he added.