RUNNING and football have been a source of therapy for two former college footballers after being hit by typhoon Yolanda more than three years ago.
Ray Neil Caminong and Margarette Sosing of Leyte Football Association (LFA) were two of the thousands of runners in the 10th Cebu Marathon yesterday, which covered the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
The 22-year-old Sosing, a former football player in University of Philippines (UP)-Tacloban, was one of those badly affected by the wrath of typhoon Yolanda last November 2013. After three years, Tacloban City has slowly recovered from the strongest typhoon that hit the country.
“Things are better now. We have recovered from what had happened, and part of my recovery process, personally, involves sports — football and running,” Sosing told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview after making the seven-hour cut-off time.
Sosing finished her first Cebu Marathon in 6 hours and 44 minutes, while coach Caminong ran his second in 5:23.
Sosing said that football and running have become a therapy to help them forget about the destruction brought by typhoon Yolanda. Sosing and Caminong with the LFA are doing a football clinic in different parts of Eastern Visayas.
Caminong and Sosing said that they enjoyed the Cebu Marathon, especially the people who were cheering on the runners on the street.
“It was a good experience. There are many people who are encouraging you on the streets. They always ask you if you are still OK. The cheers kept me moving,” said Sosing.