A CHANCE encounter led the Cebu Trail Runners (CTR) to organize the Runnilla Eco Light A School challenge on April 13 at the Minglanila Central Oval.
CTR president Romeo Cordova said they decided to hold the event after their group, along with race director Jake Liarta, went for a training run in the mountainous barangays of Minganilla.
“When we reached Calbasa-an, we found out they needed electricity, especially the pupils in the elementary school. The thought has inspired us to organize this event, not only to raise funds but to promote trail running in Cebu,” Cordova said in a press conference at the Minganilla Municipall Hall.
Cordova was joined by Camp 7 barangay councilor Rubie Gantalaw, Calbasa-an Elementary School representative Irene Gantalaw, Minganilla Police Chief Insp. Richard Gadingan, race director Liarta, Municipal Administrator Cording Mejias and organizing committee member Vissuelo A. Rebojo.
Race director Liarta said the Calabsa-an Elementary School will be their beneficiary for this year’s race.
“We are planning to purchase a generator for the school, while our LGU is working on providing electricity there,” said Liarta.
Liarta added that power companies cannot access this area because the road is inaccessible,.
“We are so modernized here but up there in the far-flung mountainous barangays, they don’t have electricity,” said Liarta.
The run features a men’s and women’s 30K, 18K and 5K. They will have a cut-off time of seven hours for the 30K, five hours for the 18K and three hours for the 5K.
There will be a water stations every five kilometers.
Registration fee is P1,000 for the 30K, P750 for the 18K and P350 for 5K.
Registration will end on March 31 and runners may sign up on www.runnilla.com.