Condura run to honor Phl soldiers

MANILA, Philippines - The seventh edition of the Condura Skyway Marathon will take place on Feb. 1, 2015 with a special mission of providing support to the families of Filipino soldiers killed or injured in action.

Ton Concepcion, founder and chief organizing officer of the Condura Skyway Marathon, told yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate that next year’s race is dubbed “Run for a Hero.”

“This is a very special race,” said Concepcion, who was joined in the forum by race ambassador Patrick Concepcion and celebrity running coach and race director Rio dela Cruz.

The Hero Foundation, this year’s beneficiary, was represented by its executive director, retired Maj. Gen. Daniel Casabar, and marketing director Michelle Chan. Also present were Bhaby Lorenzo of Asics and Tony Reyes of title sponsor Skyway O&M Corp.

Concepcion said the only race in the country that is ran on the skyway will have events in the 6K, 10K, 21K and 42K, the centerpiece event that will be flagged off past midnight.

“We started this race with the vision of coming up with a world-class race and to make the Philippines a better place. But over the years we’ve had beneficiaries,” he said.

“It’s always been for a cause. And next year it’s for the Hero Foundation,” Concepcion said, adding they expect to draw a total of 15,000 participants, including foreigners.

Dela Cruz said deadline for registration ends Oct. 15 at seven Asics stores nationwide. So far, 9,000 runners have registered, but once they hit 15,000, registration automatically ends.

Casabar said the Hero Foundation is a non-government-organization and is neither under the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It’s a foundation put up by former President Corazon Aquino and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa in 1988.

“Our soldiers die in combat and this leaves their widows and children with nowhere to go. Then the foundation was conceived with the help of the industrial bigwigs, and it provides education to the children,” he said.

“Instead of giving money, we provide education,” Casabar said.

“It’s a message to our soldiers that we care. We want to send them that message. We want our soldiers to feel that they are loved,” added Chan.

She said the Hero Foundation has helped the families of over 700 soldiers, mostly based in Mindanao, involving over 2,400 children, 900 of them have graduated from high school.

Proceeds of this year’s Condura Skyway Marathon, which was set aside last year due to Typhoon Yolanda, will help bring at least 125 children through high school.

“This race will be a sea of love for the military orphans,” Chan added.