THE Service Civil International (SCI) Penang Chapter has announced the upcoming 34th MBPP/SCI Penang Peace Run 2023, scheduled to take place at Taman Bandaraya (formerly called Youth Park) on Aug 13 (Sunday) at 7.30am.
SCI Penang president Athimulam Arjunan said they have set a target of 2,000 participants with the closing date for entries on July 9.
“The objective of this Peace run among others is to inculcate awareness of the importance of being healthy, to create a bond between able and disabled participants as well as for the general public to understand the need and wants of the underprivileged.
“In Malaysia, the SCI has been organising numerous workshops and activities geared especially to the physically handicap, mentally challenged, visually impaired, underprivileged, socially deprived members of our society and the aged.
“An event of this nature requires vast resources in terms of capital and money. As such, we would like to appeal for more sponsors for the event,” Athimulam said during his speech at a press conference at the City Stadium in Lorong Kulit today.
He said so far about 10 sponsors have come forward to support the event, which is estimated to cost RM150,000.
The event consists of a 7km competitive run for the able-bodied participants and 1.5km peace walk for the physically challenged participants and VIPs.
Established 103 years ago in Verdun, France, under the umbrella of UNESCO, SCI is an international voluntary organisation and global peace.
The Penang chapter of SCI was registered in 1972 and celebrated its Golden Jubilee last year. It started to organise the first Peace run in 1989 in collaboration with MBPP.
Among those present at the press conference were MBPP Corporate and Community director Muhammad Muashraf Mohamed and his deputy, Khairol Izwan Salamat, SCI Penang legal adviser Datuk Dr M.C. Pitchay, organising secretary Veronica Jacob, SCI event coordinator Eric Yeoh Cheng Thor, representatives of the sponsors, and some students from the Sekolah Kanak Kanak Istimewa Akal Jalan Dato Keramat.
Muhammad Muashraf expressed Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) pleasure in collaborating with SCI Penang for this annual event promoting active and healthy lifestyle.
He also encouraged the public to take part in the event, which is themed ‘Unity in Diversity.’
Both Muhammad Muashraf and Athimulam thanked the sponsors for coming together to support a meaningful event.
The sponsors include Gleneagles Hospital Penang (main sponsor), Instant Trading Co, McDonalds, Koes Daires (M) Sdn Bhd, Eastin Hotel Penang, Sunquick Barkath, Enricos Penang and Dell Penang.
The 1.5km walk will feature the participation of special children from various homes or organisations, including the Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children’s Association of Penang, Persatuan Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia; Persatuan Orang Cacat Negeri Pulau Pinang; St Nicholas Home for Visually Handicap; Sekolah Kanak Kanak Terencat Akal Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang; Sekolah Kanak Kanak Istimewa Jalan Grove, Penang; Penang Deaf Association Jalan Bertam; Federation of the Deaf Jalan Tanjong Bungah; Cheshire Home Penang; and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Orang Buta, Pulau Pinang.
All the participants with special needs do not have to pay any entry fee, but for those able-bodied participants, they have to pay an entry fee of RM55 for the 7km competitive run and RM40 for Peace Walk with VIPs.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/808218490696655/?ref=newsfeed.
For online registration, please visit https://howei.com/event_details/scipenangpeacerun2023.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong