Run, jog, walk, have fun on Sept. 9

PARTICIPANTS in the “Run for Life 2” fun-run on Sept. 9 will not be doing so for personal sports glory but – as the dubbing goes – for life and for fun.

There will be medals for the top finishers in the seven-kilometer open class and the four-kilometer senior and children categories, but there will be no cash prizes that are the come-on for professional long-distance runners.

The rules are not that strict. Those who can’t run or jog can take the two-kilometer walk that offers no medals, only the opportunity to feel good over having made a difference in the lives of six seriously ill patients.

All participants are asked to pay or have a sponsor shoulder the P200 registration fee. The point is that the proceeds will be equally divided among the six patients, to prop them up in their fight against serious illnesses.

Those who have no time to run, jog or walk the course may sponsor one, two or more runners, especially kids.

The run, jog or walk will fire off and end in front of the Rizal Elementary School beside the Pacdal Circle. It is where school principal Brendalee Celino, the faculty, and parents will prepare the hot morning brew to go with bread the participants will break they hit the finish.

Run for Life 2 will be for grade IV teacher Elenita Soriano of Rizal who’s fighting breast cancer. It will be for burn victim Geoffrey Alipio Malag of Upper Dagsian, cancer victim Ma. Elena Rimando fo T. Alonzo St., car accident victim Tommy Fabro of Engineer’s Hill, cancer patient Jacklyn Onal of Outlook Drive and tumor victim Rodrigo Santiago of South Sanitary Camp.

The Samahang Brgy Pangkalikasan, a group of barangay captains running the event, did Run for Life 1 earlier this year for three cancer patients of Outlook Drive barangay. They wanted to run another when they learned of teacher Soriano’s plight.

Mike Arnaiz, SBP acting chair and Outlook Drive village chief, said participation tickets can be purchased at the multi-purpose halls of the barangays of the beneficiaries, from SBP members and at the information division of the city mayor’s office at city hall.

Participants must sign a waiver also being issued through the barangay halls. Parents are also advised to do the same for their minor children joining the run.

A medical team will be at the starting line as early as 5:00 a.m. on Sept. 9 to check on would-be participants.

Lawana announced the following route for the seven-kilometer Open category: Rizal Elementary School – Gibraltar Road – Mines view Park – Outlook Drive behind the Mansion-Casa Ferraren – turn left to Baguio Country Club Road – South Drive – down to Teachers Camp – up Leonard Wood Road via Teachers Camp Bridge – straight to Pacdal Circle and finish line infront of Rizal Elem. School.

The course for the Kids/Senior category will be: Rizal Elementary School – Gibraltar Road – Mines view Park – Outlook Drive behind The Mansion – turn right after Casa Ferraren – Park Road - Pacdal Circle – finish line.

Walkers will start at Rizal- turn right to Pacdal Circle – go down Park Road (Country Club Road) – turn left to Casa Ferraren – turn left to 15th Street – go down to Albergo’s – turn right to Bridle Path – turn left to finish line in front of Rizal.

Those who would be late for the starting gun between 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. may go directly to the finish line and serve as volunteer. (Ramon Dacawi)