5th Run for BB set May 26

The fifth Run for BB will offer a grueling 25-kilometer distance this May 26 starting at the Chong Hua Medical Center parking area.

The annual fun run serves as a fund-raising activity of Chong Hua Hospital’s Hemacology and Oncology Unit for the treatment and medical assistance of less fortunate children with cancer.

After the successful 21-kilometer race last year, organizers, headed by Naomi Fajardo of Chong Hua’s Hemacology and Oncology Unit and race director Joel Baring of Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts, decided to extend the distance to 25k to make the run more challenging. The 25k route will bring runners up to barangay Busay and back to Banilad and Talamban.

Aside from the 25k, the race will also offer 15k, 5k and 200-meter and 400m runs for kids.

Fajardo said last year’s edition managed to raise P150,000, which was equally divided to the six children beneficiaries being treated for cancer. She said the beneficiaries are recovering well and are receiving regular treatment in Chong Hua.

“We are just glad because a lot of runners helped us raise funds to help these less fortunate children,” said Fajardo during yesterday’s launching at the Hainanese Restaurant in Robinsons Cybergate. Joining her were Baring and IRC Automation Timing System’s Elmer Canque. “We are back in the running scene and we invite them again to join us help another batch of children with cancer.”  The children patients are being treated for acute lymphocytic anemia, hodgkins lymphoma and severe aplastic anemia.

Since the running event offers a longer distance, Baring tapped IRC Automation Timing Systems to handle the timing of the race.

According to Canque, IRC uses a low-cost digital device that makes it very affordable for organizers. The group does not use timing chips, which is more costly. This is the reason why fun run organizers usually don’t use timing chips and instead settles for manual time capturing.

“We use bar codes as the official identification of each runner. We capture it with our digital device that will automatically appear on our system and update not just the organizer but also the participants for their official times. It’s waterproof, and costs less so it helps the organizers,” said Canque.

Canque and his team is also introducing the use of a global positioning system (GPS) technology, which can determine the leading runner of each category.

Medals and cash prizes awaits the top 10 finishers of the 25k and top five for the 15k. Timex wrist watches will be given away to the top three winners in the 25k and 15k. The first 300 finishers in the 25k will receive a finisher’s medal.

Kenyan runners can only compete in the 25k category. Registration in ongoing at the Chong Hua Hospital-Nursing Service Office and cardio unit and at the RUNNR Ayala Center Cebu.