ERWIN Emata, the third Filipino to reach the peak of Mount Everest, will grace the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA) fun run 2018 that will kick off on Sunday, April 8, at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Gym in Panabo City.

During the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum on Thursday, April 5, held at The Annex of SM City Davao, MBFEA executive administrative officer Gladys Mebrano-Garcia along with race manager Dax Ang announced that Emata will lead the gun start together with MBFEA president Richard Mark Delos Reyes.

Emata will join 600 participants who will join the male and female 3K and 6k categories.

Most of the participants, according to Garcia, are stakeholders and suppliers of the Cavendish banana industry.

"But Davao del Norte will field eight indigenous people (IP) kids and the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) will also field 40 members to run with us," Garcia said.

The first MBFEA fun run, which aims to raise awareness on the importance and contributions of the Cavendish banana industry in the economy of the region, will also benefit a certain school in Davao del Norte.

"Twenty to 30 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Basak Elementary School in Talaingod, providing them with school supplies and construction materials for their extension," she said.

Ang, meanwhile, said the route will be within Panabo City area only.

The top three male and female runners in both categories will receive P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000.

Raffle prizes also await participants from sponsors Wing Mau Group, Davao International Container Terminal Inc, Davao Packaging Corporation, Davao Integrated Port and Stevedoring Services Corporation, Davao Fibreboard Packaging Plant Inc., Steniel Mindanao Packaging Corporation, Magsaysay Shipping Lines, Province of Davao del Norte, Tagum City, LGU of Sto. Tomas, Nature Spring, Rox Ayala Abreeza, Yang Ming Shipping Philippines Inc. and Envireau Pacific Inc.