Race to raise interest in Kuching’s cultural and built heritage
KUCHING: The Kuchi ng Heritage Committee will hold the Kuching Heritage Race 2017 on Jan 14 to stoke interest in and appreciation of Kuching’s cultural and built heritage.
Teams will race through central Kuching answering questions or carrying out activities based on clues and instructions given to test their knowledge.
“Proceeds wil l be given to worthwhi le heritage- related projects as well as to underfunded charitable organisations,” Kuching Heritage Committee chairman Philip Yong told a press conference yesterday.
The first race on Jan 30 this year had 156 participants from 42 teams including Sarawak Society for the Deaf members, as well as visitors from New York, Paris, Tasmania, China, United Kingdom, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
“Wi t h the support of many tourism and heritage organisations including the Sarawak Tourism Board and Sarawak Convention Bureau, the event raised RM20,000, which was able to provide customised wheelchairs for handicapped children,” Yong said.
“With the experience of the first race, the next race promises to be more challenging and exciting as this focus on the undiscovered parts of Kuching that many local residents may not be aware. Kuching Heritage Race 2017 will be a bigger, better and tougher race.”
He said the upcoming race promises to be even more fun and fast- paced, with young and old, visitors as well as residents standing a good chance of winning top prizes.
According to the Sarawak Tourism Federation president, the race is ideal for a boutique destination like Kuching, which is rich in heritage, has a strong community feel and is relatively unknown to most travel lers outside of Sarawak.
“This event helps to focus at t ent ion on what ma kes Kuching unique and different, and at the same time rallies local communities around their own heritage.
“It is wonderful to see so many families bring their children along. It is good to start them young and i f you introduce heritage to them in a fun way, it will stick,” Yong added.
The maximum number of participants is capped at 200.
The participation fee is RM50 per person.
For registration and i n format ion go to www. kuchingheritage.com.
Alternatively, email info@ kuchingheritage.com or visit the Kuching Heritage Race Facebook page.