Physiatrists to hold run for the disabled

Physiatrists, specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM), will hold the MOVE Manila Run 2011 at 5 a.m. on July 17 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City for the benefit of needy persons with disabilities, one of society’s most neglected sectors.

MOVE stands for “Making Ourselves Vigilant to Exercise,” an advocacy for exercise awareness in the community, combined with a fundraising drive for indigent persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The advocacy assists persons with disabilities for their medical and rehabilitative care, helps athletes with disabilities to participate in sports, supports skills training, disability awareness and prevention workshops, and funds the Rehab Charity Clinic of the PARM-Philippine Medical Association.

This year, PARM chairs the national working committee (NWC) of the 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. The NWC is composed of government, non-government agencies and different PWD organizations. Together with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAPinoy) and the office of Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas .

Organizers of the run expect to draw at least 100 wheelchair athletes, other persons of various disabilities, families and friends and celebrities like basketball players from the Philippine Basketball Association.

MOVE Manila Run 2011 jumpstarts the nationwide weeklong celebration of disability prevention and rehabilitation.

In 2012 and beyond, PARM aims to continue the advocacy by having similar runs in other key cities of the country like Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.

For the past three and a half decades, physiatrists—medical doctors specializing in physical and rehabilitation medicine—have organized themselves under PARM to promote excellence in rehabilitation care. The academy has almost 300 members all over the country.

Run organizers said they aim to raise at least P500,000 from the event. With the fund, the group aims to help not only in raising awareness about disability but also to assist in dealing with other non-health related issues.