1,300 runners hit the extra mile for charity
KUCHING: About 1,300 individuals took part in the Architect Run For Community 2017 which raised RM15,000 for three charitable organisations yesterday.
The beneficiaries were Society for Kuching Urban Poor ( SKUP), Hope Place Kuching ( Hope Place) and Barefoot Mercy, which received RM5,000 each.
The run, organised by the Sarawak Chapter of the Malaysian Association of Architects ( PAMSC), was divided into two categories – 10km and 5km.
We will have our gala dinner next week. In the past, when we organised our gala dinner, whatever balance from the proceeds would be donated to charitable organisations. But this year, things are getting more expensive. Hence, we organised this run to raise more. Mike Boon, PAMSC chairman
At about 6.30am, United GI Products Sdn Bhd managing director Paul Pau flagged off the 10km runners followed by PAMSC chairman Mike Boon doing the same for the 5km runners at the Square Tower, Kuching Waterfront here.
UGI together with EcoSteel were the main sponsors for the event, which was organised for the first time by PAMSC. Prior to the flag- off, an invited instructor warmed up runners during a brief Zumba session.
Met by The Borneo Post before the flag- off, Boon, who was also a participant, said the run represented a social event for the community to get together, aside from raising funds for the charities. He said the event was not a competition but meant for family and friends to meet and interact with one another.
He added that PAMSC was fulfilling part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) when it went the extra mile to organise the inaugural run for charitable purposes.
“We will have our gala dinner next week. In the past, when we organised our gala dinner, whatever balance from the proceeds would be donated to charitable organisations. But this year, things are getting more expensive. Hence, we organised this run to raise more.”
Meanwhile, deputy organising chairperson Ivy Jong said PAMSC decided to donate to SKUP, Hope Place and Barefoot Mercy because they ‘are least exposed’ compared to their counterparts.
“We feel that these three lack the manpower to organise events like this themselves; hence, we reached out to them. Barefoot Mercy has been helping the Penans while SKUP and Hope Place have been helping the urban poor and needy families.”
Jong said the run was held in conjunction with the Building Trade Show ( BTS) and gala dinner to be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching this coming weekend.
According to her, PAMSC has been doing a lot of community work but “we never shout about it”. Pointing out that BTS was held once every two years, she said PAMSC was committed to giving back to society.
“We hope to give a bit more to the charitable organisations, and hopefully by exposing the organisations (in the public sphere), there will be more public awareness.”
Organising chairperson Leong Pik Shia said the turnout was more than what they had expected. “We targeted about 1,000 participants,” she said, adding that the participants ran past or through several architectural landmarks including the Tua Pek Kong Temple and Padang Merdeka.