Hamden (front, fifth right) and his Forest Department officers pose for a photo-call after the press conference on and the launch of the website for ‘Forest Fun Run 2019’. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The Forest Department’s ‘Forest Fun Run 2019’ is expected to attract 3,500 runners at all its venues in Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu.
Participation is open to individuals, as well as those representing the public and private sectors.
Held in celebration of the department’s 100th anniversary this year, the run will be conducted in series, starting with Taman Tumbina in Bintulu this Aug 25.
Next venue is Piasau Nature Reserve in Miri on Sept 8, followed by Bukit Lima in Sibu on Sept 22, before the last leg in Pustaka Negeri Sarawak in Kuching on Nov 3.
“We are pleased and excited to host this event, which we hope would appeal to not only the fast-growing running community in Sarawak, but also to the newcomers,” Sarawak Forest Department director Hamden Mohammad told reporters during a press conference on ‘Forest Fun Run 2019’ at Wisma Sumber Alam in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
The press conference also launched the website www.gritevent.com/forestrun, meant to facilitate the public to register online.
Co-organisers of the event are Ta Ann, Samling, KTS, Sarawak Timber Association and WTK.
Adding on, Hamden pointed out that the event would also enable the department to be closer to the public, engaging them further so that they would understanding roles and responsibilities of the Forestry Department better.
On the medals, Hamden said the design would resemble a tree species unique to each divisional venue – the ‘Belian’ for Bintulu, ‘Tapang’ for Miri, ‘Ensurai’ for Sibu, and ‘Engkabang Jantong’ for Kuching.
Moreover, each of the top 100 runners would be given a tree seedling, to be planted at designated spots in all four running venues where a week after that, their names would be printed on signs that would indicate the spots where they had planted the seedlings.
The 100 seedlings symbolise the department’s 100th anniversary.
“We hope this would encourage everyone, including our clients, business associates, friends and family members, to get together and enjoy this healthy activity,” Hamden he pointed out.
Registration for the 5km run is RM50 per person.
For more information, call Josh on 016-888 2794, or Ahmad Ashrin Bohari of Sarawak Forestry Department on 082-319 164 / 082-319 182.
Online registration is also open now.