SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/ 15 November) – Young professionals, physicians, lawyers, teachers and health enthusiasts here are organizing a fun run next month to promote awareness on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes the deadly Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
The Surigao Runners’ Club (SRC) is organizing the fun run to also popularize the health benefits of running in the locality.
Ingemar Macarine, SRC president, said it is the first in this city’s history that a runners’ club was put together after friends and fellow running enthusiasts find it timely to create a club.
“This is also one way of encouraging others to run and those who are already running to join the club,” said the young lawyer, who started running only last March.
Surigaonons are by far known for their laidback lifestyle, and Macarine said introducing this to the community is part of “offering Surigaonons an alternative lifestyle and to promote running as a sport.”
Macarine said the fun run will “hopefully kick-start a healthier lifestyle” for the people here.
SRC has partnered with the City Health Office for the HIV/AIDS awareness activity, which is dubbed “Red Tie Run 2012: For HIV/AIDS Hope Awareness.”
Dr. Romulo Ybiernas, city health officer, said the fun run seeks to raise awareness about HIV-AIDS in a bid to curb the increasing cases in the city.
How the club started was as interesting as to how the sport was introduced to these young professionals.
Engr. Heracleo Dumadag III, a videographer and proprietor of Surigao’s first Surigao TV, said it was his brief documentary about a friend afflicted with psoriasis that challenged him to run.
“Sija gani na may sakit man nan amo ini mojagan man gani, ako pa kaha? (This guy has a skin disorder and yet he is running, so what more with me?),” he said, adding it was also his health that prompted him to take this new interest.
“Sometime this year, I was brought to the hospital after I collapsed. It was a turning point for me to do something about my lifestyle,” he noted.
Dumadag’s race to good health has already paid off after just a few weeks of running.
According to his clock, he already had 44 runs or a total distance of 206.4 kilometers since last July, losing several pounds as a result.
For those interested to register in the fun run, you may visit the Skin Specialist at the 2nd floor of Gaisano Capital Surigao or tat the PLDT-Philcom Office at Narciso Street.
Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis. Registration fees are as follows: 10k – P250; P5k – P200; 3k – P200; and Kiddie Run and 5k Fun Run for students, P150. Singlet and race bib are inclusive of the fee. The fees are non-refundable.
For more information please visit its facebook page at www.facebook.com/RedTieRun2012 or email at surigaorunnersclub@yahoo.com. (Vanessa Almeda/MindaNews)