All set for POGS Run 2011 on July 31

IT’S ALL SYSTEMS go for the POGS Run 2011 slated July 31 at the  Ayala Center Cebu Terraces.

1,395 runners have already enlisted, among them are 50 pregnant women, for the race dubbed  Save A Mother From Hemorrhage, Women’s Health Celebration of POGS-Cebu.

The run, headed by the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS)-Cebu Chapter, features a 1-kilometer fun walk. It is a fund-raising event to help decrease women’s mortality rate during child birth process.

During the official launching yesterday at the Casino Español, Dr. Maria Lourdes Chan of POGS Cebu discussed the alarming number of fatalities due to hemorrhage during delivery and the lack of blood needed to save lives.

“It is very sad to think that we belong in a third world country,” said Chan. “But if we work together and make this event successful, we can save many lives,” said Dr. Belinda Panares, the regional director of POGS-Region 7.

POGS-Region 7 has allotted P100,000 for the life-saving program but they say it still not enough to supply blood for the patients.

POGS-Cebu has already coordinated with the Philippine National Red Cross to help their crusade against this illness.

Dr. Humility Igaña, POGS Fun Run chairman,  said a running event is essential to raise funds because of its popularity. It can also help keep Cebuanos active and fit.

The group tapped veteran Joel Baring of Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts (SAFE) to handle the technical side of the race.

According to statistics gathered by POGS, around 160 to 170 women out of 100,000 deliveries don’t make it due to blood loss. This alarmed the group, which is why they  decided to conduct a program which donates blood to patients giving birth. Most of the patients are confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and the Cebu City Medical Center.

The race will offer four categories—the 1k walk, 3k fun run, 8k and 15k open category.

Organizers will be giving out cash prizes to the winners in each category.

The 15k champions will receive P5,000, second placers get P3,500 and third placers will win P2,500. Fourth will get P1,000 while the sixth to 10th placers will receive P500 each with medals.

The 8k winners will be taking home P3,000, P2,000 for the second placers and P1,000 for the third placers.

A specially designed dog tag will be given out to the first 100 finishers in the 15k courtesy of Suarez and Sons.

Cancer survivors and women in their menopausal stage are also invited to join the 1k fun walk.

Registration fee is pegged at P250 for the 1k, 3k and 8k. P300 is the fee for the 15k race.

Organizers are optimistic about the turnout of the race despite of another running event to  be held on the same day, which is the Alay Takbo sa Kabataan at the Plaza Sugbo at the South Road Properties.

Registration areas are at the Ayala Active Zone and Cebu Doctors’ Hospital Center for Women’s Health. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL