Disabled man among 8,000 to join run
KOTA KINABALU: A boy who used to isolate himself from others has now grown up to be an optimistic athlete.
Zulkarnain Mohd Riduan, 20, from here, who has learning disabilities, scaled Mount Kinabalu when he was 11, represented Asia in snowshoeing and several sporting events, as well as football games in other states in Malaysia.
His father, Mohd Riduan Abdullah, said by engaging his third child in sports, Zulkarnain developed into a better and independent person.
“When he was younger, Zulkarnain seldom talked to people, had difficulty looking after himself at school and even tried to burn down the house,” he said after the launch of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef)-Borneo International Marathon here yesterday.
Zulkarnain was among 100 children with disabilities expected to join at least 8,000 runners for the marathon on May 7.
Manchester United Fans club (Malaysia) is sponsoring five children from Sarawak to join the event. Now in its 10th year, race director Datuk Dr Heng Aik Cheng said this year, the organiser would partner with Unicef to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities. The registration fee would be waived for persons with disabilities and money raised from the event would go to non-profit organisations.
The event was launched by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.