Raising awareness of diabetes
SUBANG JAYA: ABOUT 1,500 runners participated in the Subang Jaya Medical Centre’s (SJMC) SJMC Run 2014, recently.
The 7km-run was flagged off by the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker and Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh.
Runners were given goodie bags and medals. While waiting for the results to be announced, runners took a break by having a free healthy breakfast of oat bars, bananas and bread sponsored by healthcare company Sanofi Aventis.
Children had fun participating in painting and colouring sessions organised by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
SJMC Diabetes Care Services manager Yong Lai Mee said: “This event was organised to raise awareness of diabetes and encourage Malaysians to live a healthy lifestyle.
“One in five Malaysian adults over the age of 30 is diabetic. This means 3.6 million Malaysians are affected by the disease.
Yong was pleased by the overwhelming response to the event.
“Apart from the 7km competitive run, there was also a non-competitive fun-run for families. Runners aged 2 to 83 took part in this run to support our cause,” she said.
While first prize winners in all six of the run categories got a trophy and a cheque worth RM1,000 each, second prize winners walked away with trophies and Samsung Tablets. Third prize winners walked away with trophies and Lenovo smartphones.
Vijayan Devandran, 31, who works as a cargo officer at the KLIA airport was the winner in Category A.
“I enjoy running and train five days a week to take part in running competitions. I also train students aged 15 to 17 in Tanah Merah, Port Dickson, to become athletes.
“The prize money will be used to purchase new Skechers running shoes for my students as they have no sponsors,” he said, adding that his shoes and attire were sponsored by Skechers Malaysia.
Megumi Koshiba, 35, who emerged first in Category B said she and her husband Kosuke Koshiba, 35, were happy to take part in the event.
“I usually go for a 30-minute run at least once a week. I plan to take my husband for a good Japanese and Malay buffet to celebrate,” she said.
Some 1,500 people took part in the run. Pic by Asman Ibrahim
