A DAY after a grueling race in the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships, professional triathletes and organizers visited their beneficiary for this year, the Marigondon Elementary School.

Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) together with Children’s Hour and the professional and Filipino elite triathletes went to Marigondon Elementary School to donate the P250,000, which will be used to buy computers and books for the reading corner.

The SEI, the organization behind the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, is reaching out to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility, done a day after the race. This is the first time that Marigondon Elementary School was selected as the beneficiary.

School principal Rebecca Toring told reporters that they have almost 5,000 students and the computers and books will be helpful on the academic development of the students.

“One of the basic things that the kids should learn is reading, with the donations it will really help the students. When they asked me what the needs of the school are, I suggested books because it’s very important to studies of the children,” she said.

Toring also said that the school currently has six computers with close to 5,000 students. The computers to be donated will be a huge help to the public school.

“Our six computers are not enough to accommodate around 5,000 students. The computers that will be given can really help,” she said.

The founder of SEI Fred Uytengsu said that it’s their pleasure to give back to the community and it’s something that they’ve learned over the years of doing the triathlon event.

“We’d like to continue to do that in every city we’re going to do that in every city that we’ve participated,” he said. “We’d like to give to the youth, they are the future. Promoting education, the welfare of our children and hopefully promoting the sport of triathlon to the youth.”

Champions Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen were among the pros who participated in the mural painting in the school.

Meanwhile, Uytengsu said that there are still a lot of things that is needed to be done to host an Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

“The model of Ironman is anything is possible and I continue to believe that. There are a lot of thing to do if we host. But one of the biggest concern is what happens to the age group triathletes, especially to the 2,250 Filipino who did not qualify,” he said. “It’s early to tell and we have to think about it.”

The rights to host the 2018 Ironman World 70.3 Championships would be up for bid. Only the triathletes who make the qualifying time can join the race. The race draws around 5,000 participants.

The CEO of Ironman Asia-Pacific Geoff Meyer complemented the race last Sunday, calling it as the best ever Asia-Pacific 70.3. Only three countries were able to host the event—Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

“I have to say that it was a resounding success I think it went better that we hope it would go. It took tremendous support from the provincial government and the cities involved. The spectators are fantastic more than 100,000 out there. We will keep coming back to Cebu as long as Cebu welcomes us,” Uytengsu on Sunday’s race, which drew close to 3,000 participants from 43 countries.