RUN From the column Pieces of Donna Republished with permission from TheFreeMan (Cebu)   No, I am not into running...yet! Although I know the benefits, my body is not ready and fit enough...yet! Taking care of my two kids, playing, running around, even just watching them burn their energies is so exhausting that it is enough workout for me...for now. I know I have to exercise and prepare myself for this type of sport. I know that one must have the determination, guts and focus to run. And I know, I will get there soon enough! In the meantime, I can run just for fun and games!   On the other hand, my husband, Yong, is very much into it. He discovered this new passion for running only last year when he joined the first 10K marathon in April 2005 here in Cebu. Since then, he has been joining marathon races every chance he gets and wished he started doing it much earlier. He said that ever since he started running, he felt stronger and healthier. Last March, he joined the marathon in the States during The A.S.C.R.S. (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) convention in San Francisco's Moscone Center. They ran for a cause.  

That foundation is called Run For Sight. It happens every year and the proceeds for this yearly event benefits the Orbis Foundation, a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to preserving and restoring sight in the developing world.

It was perfect because Yong not only loved running but also loved the idea of running for a cause and this was how Yong came up with the idea of building a Run For Sight foundation here in the Philippines, too. This first marathon (walk/run) event that he organized in cooperation with Cebu Doctors' University is called the "1st University Run... RUN FOR SIGHT!" I believe that this is the first time that an event like this is going to be carried out here. I truly hope that there will be more university runs in the future and am quite certain they will be inspired by the fundraising success that this 1st University Run...RUN FOR SIGHT will apparently achieve by the incredible number of people signing up to join. This 5K/10K marathon is scheduled on August 20, 2006, Sunday at 6am at Osmena Blvd, Cebu City.   "You can run for love, run for health, run for challenge, run for fun (or run for your desire to get in shape! - DYL) but if you run with us, you'll be running for a cause!"... This is just a part of my husband's speech during the press conference and launching of the Run For Sight foundation. I am so proud of him for creating this charitable foundation and I would like to thank those who are helping him organize this event - for all their help to support a good cause such as this one.   The beneficiaries of this project are THE CEBU HOPE CENTER, a welcome home and school for morally-endangered female child ages 1 - 18, CEBU CATARACT FOUNDATION, offers free out patient cataract surgery to the indigent fellowmen of Cebu and its neighboring islands; and the COMMUNITY IMMERSION PROGRAM, an outreach education program for children founded by the Benedictine sisters in Tabunok, Cebu City.

I would like to invite all the beautiful, healthy people of Cebu to join this wonderful event and help us not only raise funds but also to make this a fun day with your friends and family! But of course, everyone is invited to be there, even non-Cebuanos and foreigners who would love to run with us!

To participate, simply register yourself in the race by going to either one of these locations: CEBU DOCTORS' UNIVERSITY (main building) or ABELLANA SPORTS COMPLEX. You can also visit their website at www.runforsight.net, download the entry form there, print it, fill it up and send it to the registration places. The marathon route map (start and finish) can also be downloaded from the site.   For questions and inquiries, you may also call Raymond at cell phone number 0917-329-4268, Roxanne at 256-2020 (landline). Registration deadline is on August 18, 2006.   There will be prizes, awards and trophies. The categories for the 10K marathon are: Open runners (men and women), executive runners and doctors. For the 5K run are - students and parent - student tandem. Everybody (and I mean everyone!) can actually join as long as they register. Kids (with the permission of their parents of course!) and senior citizens can also participate if they think they are healthy enough to do it.   Cash prizes of P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000 will be given to the first, second and third placers plus medals and trophies. The top 10 finishers will also get consolation prizes and some giveaways from the sponsors. I have also volunteered to donate a prize for the first child below 12 years old to finish the 5K fun run. There are also special awards for the person with the weirdest attire, best attire, the liveliest group and biggest contingent.   Upon registration, you will be given a shirt and a map and once you've crossed the finish line, you will receive a goodie bag so even if you don't win, you will not go home empty-handed. But the fact that you have helped those in need by running for a cause like this makes you a winner already! 🙂 Try to finish the marathon as much as you can whether by just walking or running. Yong said that joining the charity run in the States not only gave him the thrill of crossing the finish line but also this feeling of tremendous accomplishment of helping others.   The award ceremony will be conducted shortly after the completion of the race.   Nature Spring also donated 3,000 bottles of mineral water so there will be water stations every two kilometers. Drinking water can make you win, so keep re-hydrating yourself during the race.   Please be there on time because the marathon will start at exactly 6am. It is also better if you can be there earlier and perform some stretches or warm-up exercises (Yong's suggestion).   Run for charity and help raise funds for a worthy cause! See you all at the finish line!!!   God bless!