GEORGE TOWN: SOME 1,900 fun-loving participants joined 300 special needs children in the 25th SCI-MPPP Penang Peace Run at the Municipal Council Youth Park in Jalan Kuari near here recently.
The runners took part in the 6km category while the special needs children and the VIPs participated in the shorter route of 1.5km.
Among the special needs children were those from the Spastic Centre and Cheshire Home, the mentally challenged from Jalan Dato Kramat and Jalan Grove schools while the vision impaired came from the St Nicholas Home for the Blind.
The physically handicapped children on wheelchairs and the blind children were assisted by volunteers in the 1.5km race while the participants from the Federation School for the Hearing Impaired, Tanjung Bungah ran the longer route.
The 25th Peace Run was organised by the Service Civil International Penang and the Penang Island
Municipal Council with the cooperation of the state government
and the Penang Amateur Athletic Association.
Doctors and staff from Pantai Hospital Penang held a medical camp which included free blood pressure checks and blood glucose tests while Sunquick provided free drinks.
Children from the special schools entertained the crowd with songs, dances and innovative musical performances during the “Peace Concert”.
Meanwhile, Men’s Open winner Christopher A Soosai, the Perlis Malaysia Games 5,000m silver medallist, was on cloud nine after winning back-to-back titles.
Just a week before, Christopher had won the Forward Sports Club Half Marathon, and was selected to participate in the Macau Marathon in December.
The former St Xavier Institution sixth former took up competitive running about five years ago and has been winning race after race. He hopes to represent the country one day.
“I will be joining the Malaysian Navy soon and have been offered to train in Bukit Jalil.
“This is the best opportunity to fulfil my ambition to run for the country, possibly at the Singapore Sea Games next year,” said a confident Christopher.
RESULTS — Boys’ Open: 1 Naateaash Kaliswaran 29:36, 2 Tey Feng Nian 29:59, 3 Yew Chen Shen 30:31.
Men’s Open: 1 Christopher A Soosai 24:32, 2 Wong Jin Ji 29:53, 3 Wong Xi Rim 30:13.
Junior Veteran: 1 Muniandy Kisna 28:18, 2 Ong Choon Eng 30:01, 3 Lau Beng Eng 30:14.
Senior Veteran: 1 Chan Chee Onn 30:19, 2 Liew Chien Sioen 30:39, 3 Alagarsamy Murugasen 33:44.
Girls’ Open: 1 Lim Liang Hui 36:06, 2 Trisha Then Chiam Huey 39:37, 3 Matheli Mohana Sundram 46:08.
Women’s Open: 1 Bauer Anna 37:53, 2 Adeline Lim 39:27, 3 Leow Mei Yee 39:14.
Veteran: 1 Stephanie Chong 43:06, 2 Geh Cheng Hoon 34:33, 3 Ooi Siew Peng 35:13.