Run for a bigger cause
Whether it is to mark Earth Day or for charity, runners can help support these three events, writes Kasmiah Mustapha
RUNNERS have the opportunity to take part in three events to be held between April and September this year, not only to enjoy their favourite activity but also to help raise awareness and funds.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EARTH DAY RUN 2019
First on the calendar is the National Geographic Earth Day Run 2019 on April 28 at Gamuda Walk, Kota Kemuning.
The run aims to raise awareness on plastic pollution and to reduce the amount of single-use plastics polluting the oceans.
In line with National Geographic’s Planet or Plastic? theme, runners and the public are not allowed to bring single-use plastics to the event and are to use reusable water bottles. They are also encouraged to take the official pledge to reduce their use of singe-use plastics.
The goal of the Planet or Plastic? initiative is to prevent one billion plastic items from reaching the ocean; this will avoid marine animals from becoming entangled in, suffocated by or ingest plastic.
The National Geographic Earth Day Run was launched for the first time in Malaysia last year. The categories are 15km Men and Women Open, 15km Men and Women Veteran and 5km Men and Women Open,
This year, for the first time, a 2km category exclusively for Gamuda Parks Junior Rangers between six and 13 years old is introduced. Gamuda Land is the official partner of the run.
L’OCCITANE RACE FOR VISION
For those who love to take part in charity runs, the L’Occitane Race for Vision will be held on June 23 at Central Park, Bandar Utama. Back for the second year, the 5km run is to promote awareness on avoidable blindness.
It also plans to raise RM80,000 to conduct eye care programmes such as eye screenings, prescription eye glasses for deserving primary school pupils and cataract surgery for low-income adults.
This programme is in collaboration with Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital in Petaling Jaya and St Nicholas Home in Penang.
ASICS RELAY
Another running event to look forward to is the Asics Relay which will return here in September. Kuala Lumpur is the third leg of the relay, which will be held on Sept 7 at Sepang International Circuit.
The relay starts in Jakarta on June 29, followed by Bangkok (Aug 3) and ends in Singapore (Oct 12).
It features two race distances — the 42km full marathon and 21km half marathon. In teams of four, each team can choose from three relay categories — male, female or mixed team. Each team member is required to complete 10.5 km for full marathon and 5.25km for half marathon to meet the total distance.
Asics also launched a new category for two runners in a team for individuals to accommodate smaller teams.
South Korean singer Park Sang-Hyun or Thunder, who is regional ambassador for Asics, will take part in one of the four relay races. Also joining in the race are ambassadors from each country: Olivia Jensen (Indonesia), Toey Pongsakorn (Thailand) Jasmine Suraya (Malaysia) and Zong Zi Jie (Singapore).
The Asics Relay celebrates movement through an inclusive marathon experience focused on teamwork, bonding and unity, instead of individual endurance.