Sabata 10K Run to raise public awareness on TB
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Anti-Tuberculosis Association’s (Sabata’s) annual fund-raising event, Sabata 10K Run 2017 on July 30, is aimed at raising public awareness so the people can finally breathe easy with the end of Tuberculosis (TB) in Sabah.
Its president, Henry Peter J Mogindol, said the association had been working to detect, treat and cure TB patients since 1953.
Sabata plans to kill two birds with one Sabata 10K Run stone, make TB as well as the association known to the public and raise much needed funds towards eradicating the disease in the state.
“We expect about 1,000 participants and we are in the midst of getting sponsorship for the prizes, which is very difficult,” said Henry at Wisma Sabata along Jalan Kebajikan here.
He added the association, which is one of the 25 NGOs under the Sabah Council of Social Welfare (MPMS), receives state and federal government funding but the amount had been reduced from RM60,000 to RM25,000 for all of the 18 Sabata branches throughout the years, making public donations even more important to the association.
“Without the help of the public, organizations like this cannot run, we need funds and what we can offer is service,” said Sabata vice president Datuk KJ Joseph.
“We want to eradicate TB from Sabah because it is emerging with a sort of vengeance. It is spreading and the statistics shows that Sabah has the biggest number of TB patients. We are number one out of all the Malaysian states. We should not be proud of that.”
Organizing chairman Venitha Lojuti said the yearly run is Sabata’s main fund-raising activity and this year’s target income is between RM10,000 and RM20,000 ‘only.’
“The awareness of the existing problem now is that people think TB is no longer a deadly disease in Sabah. Even though it is curable, it is still a deadly disease,” said Venitha.
“Perception on Sabata is that it is no longer active or no longer exists as an association so we need to instill awareness among the public. Sabata still exists and we are still doing our job to help the Ministry of Health to tackle the problem of TB in Sabah,” she added.
However, Venitha laments that volunteers are hard to come by and some people are not even aware that the association still exists.
“Nowadays, most youngsters don’t like to join Sabata because it is concerning about a disease. That is why the youngsters of today are more keen with youth associations. This run aims to give youngsters the awareness to join Sabata. It is not that the members now are not active, they are stronger than ever but we still need fresh new people in this association,” she said.
Running enthusiasts will gather at Wisma Sabata at 5am and the flag-off for the ‘Every Breath Counts-Stop TB Now’ themed run will be at 6am.
Runners will run down Jalan Rumah Sakit, Jalan Perwirah, Jalan Maktab Sabah, Jalan Pintas, Jalan Lintas, Jalan Penampang, Jalan Pelanduk, Lorong Zirafah, Jalan Kolam and back to Wisma Sabata through Jalan Kebajikan.
Participants will be divided into Category A for male and female aged 45 and above, Category B for male and female aged 18 to 44, and Category C for 13 to 17-year-old male and female runners.
First place winners will each get RM1,000 for Category A as well as B, and RM500 for Category C, while the second place winners will receive RM600 for Category A and B, and RM350 for Category C.
Third place winners will bring home with them RM350 each for Category A and B, and RM250 for Category C.
All fourth place winners in each respective category will receive RM150 each, whilst the fifth to 20th places will take home RM30 each for Category A and B, and RM20 for Category C.
All participants will receive a Sabata Run 2017 t-shirt, certificate, medal and bib, and runners who complete the run will be entitled to a chance at the lucky draw.
For participation forms and further information, contact Ailin at +6013-888 7030, Venitha +6016-8020 8018, Julius +6019-801 0818, Haji Masdah +6016-881 9799, Dina +6010-220 2579, Christine +6019-822 1162, Freddy +6019-820 8078, Petrus +6013-866 0795, Jamilah +6019-897 2076 and Stephonie at +6013-870 0949.