1,500 runners in Spain raise funds for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA, Philippines - A marathon dubbed as "Run for the Philippines" has raised donations for the victims of Super Typhoon "Yolanda," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

The agency said about 1,500 professional runners and running enthusiasts joined the five-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs, which were organized by the Municipal Board of Fuencarral-El Pardo and the Solventia Foundation last January 5.

Among the notable participants were cyclist Carlos Abella, runner Enrique Alvarez and Chema Martinez, the long-distance runner who had represented Spain at the Olympics.

Martinez won first place in the men’s 10-km division with a record time of 32:13 minutes, followed by Abella at 34:35 minutes and Alvarez at 35:18 minutes.

The DFA said proceeds of the event will be donated by the Solventia Foundation to the Aboitiz Foundation for building classrooms in areas in Cebu affected by the typhoon.

Meanwhile, the government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) also donated US$100,000 or about P4.4 million to the typhoon victims.

The DFA said the check donation addressed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development was turned over last January 7 to Bayani Mangibin, the Philippine Consul General in Guam.