Philhealth-DOH run eyes 6,000

ORGANIZERS expect some 6,000 runners as the Davao edition of the Philhealth-DOH Nationwide Run 2013 hits the road on Feb. 17 in an out-and-back course from SM City Davao Parking Lot C.

Philhealth division chief IV Filbert Bryan Sollesta, Davao race over-all chairperson, said some 1,800 have already signed up as of Thursday.

"We are still hoping to reach our 6,000 target since we expect most runners to register on-site," Sollesta said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Dexter's Pizza Stadium in Matina.

He said the simultaneous run aims to attract 93,000 runners nationwide.

Handsome cash prizes await winners in men's and women's 18-kilometers (18K), men's and women's 10K, men's and women's 5K, men's and women's 3K adult and male and female 3K kiddie categories.

The top three 18K finishers will receive P12,000, P8,000 and P6,000 while the first 10K placers will go home with P10,000, P6,000 and P5,000. The 5K first three finishers will pocket P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000 while 3K top three runners will claim P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000.

The 18K fastest runner will also win a Philippine Airlines Davao-Manila-Kalibo-Manila-Davao ticket while the 10K fastest participant will also get a PAL Davao-Manila-Davao ticket.

Philhealth public relations officer III Germaine M. Tan, for her part, said they donated P1.4 million to the Kids of Hope, a center for children with cancer at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, from the proceeds of the Davao run last year.

Tan said the Kids of Hope needs more funds with 60 new more patients, thus, they hope to surpass the donation they gave last year.

Philhealth had chosen Kids of Hope as beneficiary as it caters to patients from all over Mindanao and children with cancer have higher survival rate than adults with cancer. The other beneficiary is the Blood Diseases Unit of SPMC.

"It won't just be any ordinary run. This is more of a family day since participants can hang around and check out the booths. They can also avail of free foot and body massage," Tan added.

Registration fees are P250 (3K) and P300 (5K) inclusive of singlet, race bib, race primer, finisher's certificate and raffle stub; P500 (10K) inclusive of singlet, race bib, race primer, finisher's certificate, raffle stub and timing chip; and P600 (18K) inclusive of singlet, race bib, race primer, raffle stub, finisher's certificate, timing chip and finisher's medal. All runners will also avail of free light breakfast.

Registration is going on at Philhealth Regional Office, Local Health Insurance Office in Tagum, Digos and Mati, RunClub, Holiday Gym & Spa, Abreeza Mall, SM City Davao (near National Bookstore) and at Adidas of Gaisano Mall of Davao.