MOVE 5K Heroes Run for PWDs set

CEBU - It’s green and go for the second season of “M.O.V.E Heroes Run for PWDs” on November 30 at Parkmall in north reclamation area, Mandaue City .

Organized by the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM)-Visayas Council, the event has initiated an advocacy on exercise and the welfare of the persons with disabilities (PWD). MOVE means Making Ourselves Vigilant to Exercise, which combines exercise awareness for the community and at the same time a fund-raising activity for PWDs.

 “Same as last year, the proceeds that we will be accumulating in this activity will go to PARM’s Critical Illness Fund, which will be used to mainly help in the hospitalization expenses and outpatient services of our indigent PWDs,” said PARM Chairman and event organizer Dr. Renald Peter Ramiro during the press conference yesterday at Parkmall.

Ramiro gladly bared that they had raised P120,000 in the first season of the MOVE run that drew 450 participants.

They are expecting more entries this year, especially in the wheel-chaired PWDs.

“We are happy for this program because this serves as an eye opener for the people to know that we, PWDs, also have something to show off. We are hoping that this will be a yearly activity or even twice a year. This year, I will invite my fellow PWDs to come out of their shell and not to be ashamed of our condition,” said decorated paralympian Arnold Balais.

The M.O.V.E. Run has gone farther. Just recently, they had the Masskara Festival leg last October 19 in Bacolod for the Western Visayas PWDs. Plans are already in place for the staging of the Tacloban leg in June next year.

The organizers are hoping that in February next year, there will be a M.O.V.E 5K Run in Manila to extend their services to the indigent PWDs in other areas such as Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, NCR, Southern Tagalog and Bicol region.

Registration fee is pegged at P200 inclusive of a singlet and a multivitamins pack for the first 200 finishers. Entry forms are available at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC-7) office inside the Cebu City Sports Center, the Department of Rehab Medicine of Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital, and CDU’s College of Rehab Medicine.

Aside from medals, certificates and souvenir items, cash prizes are at stake for the top performers. The first three placers will take home P3,000, P2, 000 and P1, 000 pesos, respectively. The fourth to 10th will be given P300 each with certificates and souvenir items from sponsors.

The one-day race is supported by Parkmall, Pfizer Philippines, Casa Ilongga, Manila Foodshoppe, Roche Philippines, Transfarma Inc., Wyeth, Ben Café and Waterfresh Purified Drinking Water, Southwestern University, Arthro, Getz Pharma, Novartis, One Pharma Total Energy, Pharma 3, SV More and Y101. - THE FREEMAN