Cebuanos run for a cause
There are dozens of reasons why people join marathons. Some do it for the thrill, others for the challenge, others for personal pride and victory and maybe still others, simply to burn those unwanted calories. And then there are those who run to support worthy causes and projects.
Globe Telecoms annual charity fun run, dubbed “Run4Home 2012” held at the Cebu International Convention Center, drew over 5,000 runners composed of novices, experts and professionals who joined primarily to raise much-needed funds for various partner institutions. A portion of the registration fee was donated to their beneficiary of choice to support their respective advocacies and programs.
At the crack of dawn each participant gathered at the starting line to do warm-up exercises with instructor Jay Clark Tampus. Shortly before the start of each category, a fabulous display of fireworks sponsored by the Department of Tourism lit up the sky.
The city’s running enthusiasts who lent their support included Cebu sports personalities, ophthalmologist Yong Larrazabal and his actress wife Donna Cruz, Noy Jopson, the first Filipino to hold a Cobra Ironman title and his wife Amale, ABS-CBN news anchor and champion ultra-runner Haydee Acuña, breast cancer survivors headed by Mary Ann Solomon, and hundreds of sports aficionados from the well respected financial institution JP Morgan.
This year’s beneficiaries include Gawad Kalinga, (GK) Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP), Cebu Biodiversity Foundation (CBF) and the Philippine Tarsier Foundation (PTF). The GK and HFHP are both raising funds for their housing developments in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city to assist those who lost their homes due to Typhoon Sendong. CBF on the other hand, aims to transform communities in key biodiversity areas into becoming more effective stewards of the environment while PTF spearheads a massive campaign to save the Philippine Tarsier welland preserve its habitat.
The winners in the men’s 21k division were Kenyans Benjamin Kipkazi, followed by Jopshat Tuo and Eluid Kering. They received P 15,000, P 10,000 and P7,000 cash, respectively.
Cebuana Milo marathon queen Mary Grace de los Santos bagged the women’s 21k crown, followed by Christy Tutor and Leslen Abella.
