Hundreds of runners took part in the ‘Move on 2015 Charity Colour Run’ on 21
March 2015. Organised by UTAR’s Community Service Society, the 5km colour
run was flagged off at the Sports Complex of UTAR Perak Campus by Perak
State Executive Council Member Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon at 7.45am.
(From
left): Tan, Teng, Dato’ Yik, Dato’ Mah, Dr Teh, Looe and Lee officiating the
run
The
event attracted more than 1,000 runners and aimed to raise funds for the
Yayasan Dialysis Pendidikan Akhlak Perak, a non-profit organisation that
offers palliative care to patients suffering from kidney diseases. The run
was also part of the students’ effort to raise public awareness on the
prevention and treatment of kidney diseases.
Raring
to Go: Dato’ Mah sounding the horn, signalling the start of the charity run
Start
of the colour run
The
vice-organising chairperson of the run, Lee Wai Keat, a Public Relations
student started his welcome speech with the tagline, “You can’t give them a
life, but you can keep them alive”. He said, “The fun-filled colour run was
organised to promote a healthy recreational activity and to foster community
engagement. Apart from the aspect of fun and health, the society also aimed
to donate at least two dialysis machines to the Moral Uplifting Dialysis
Centre.”
He
added, “We visited the dialysis centre and we were shocked to see how
patients are suffering from kidney diseases and why they need the dialysis
machines. Therefore, we decided to raise funds to do our part to assist
those patients.”
The
run was opened to staff and students of UTAR and also to members of the
public. As early as 6am, the Sports Complex became a hive of activity due to
the registration and the arrival of the participants to gear up the
colourful fun run.
Participants were sprinkled with different colours at each station
Also
present at the event were Chairman of Yayasan Dialysis Pendidikan Akhlak
Perak Dato’ Yik Phooi Hong, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and
Alumni Relations Assoc Prof Dr Teh Chee Seng, Deputy Chairman of Yayasan
Dialysis Pendidikan Akhlak Perak Teng Ah Chew, Chief of General Affairs of
Yayasan Dialysis Pendidikan Akhlak Perak Looe Lian Hoe, Chairperson of
Student Representative Council of Perak Campus Tan Zheng You, sponsors,
staff and students.
Dato’
Mah, who also participated in the run after the flagging off ceremony, said
that, “I am very delighted to see the continuous efforts and the positive
measures taken by UTAR students in promoting volunteerism as part of their
life.” He added, “I hope this event will be an example for all of us to
follow in the footsteps of UTAR students in helping the community.”
Dato’
Mah embarking on the colour run
Photo: Courtesy of
China Press
Students throwing coloured powder at each other after completing the colour
run
Photo: Courtesy of
China Press
Happy
participants after the run
Dato’
Yik in his opening speech said, “I am very grateful to UTAR and specifically
to its students for doing their possible efforts to help our foundation in
procuring dialysis machines for public use.” He added that the run shows
that UTAR students are not only focused on their studies, but are concerned
about the society as well.
The
run ended with entertaining student dance performances and music. It was a
memorable day of fun, laughter and colour.
Wholly owned by UTAR Education Foundation (200201010564(578227-M)) LEGAL STATEMENT TERM OF USAGE PRIVACY NOTICE