Seremban Half - 15/7/2007

Source from : THE STAR

OVER the years, disabled participants have held a soft spot in the hearts of the Seremban Half Marathon (SHM) organisers.
The organisers of the upcoming 20th edition of the run will be making a strong attempt to attract those with special needs to be part of the occasion at the Padang N.S. Jalan Yam Tuan in Seremban on July 15.
And ExxonMobil has stepped forward again to support the cause with a RM18,000 pledge dedicated to the run’s disabled categories. The organisation has been a major sponsor of the event for the past 13 years.
“Our commitment as a sponsor in the run is a key part of our corporate social responsibility,” Mallon said, adding that two teams of 10 members each will represent the company in the corporate fun run category.
The four categories for the disabled are partially blind, deaf and dumb, mentally handicapped (13 years and below), wheel chair and non-wheel chair.
In the past, the disabled categories drew between 300 and 400 participants.
Naquiyuddin also received the sponsorship from Tint-Shop managing director S.K. Wong at the same ceremony.
Also present were SHM permanent chairman Tan Sri Chan Choong Tak, SHM secretary Loh Kim Heong and SHM sponsorship and promotions chairman Santha Chitty Bowman.
The three categories for the 21km run are women’s open (19 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years) and men’s veteran (above 40 years).
The 11km run has six categories – women’s senior (19 to below 35 years), women’s veteran (35 to below 45 years), women’s senior veteran (45 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years), men’s veteran (40 to below 50 years) and men’s senior veteran (50 years and above).
Secondary school students can participate in the boys’ and girls’ junior categories (13 to below 19 years) covering a distance of 9km.
“We are expecting 9,000 participants to take part this year, a record turnout,” said Naquiyuddin.
Besides injecting a carnival atmosphere for the event held in conjunction with Yang-di Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan’s 85th birthday on July 19, the family run comprising two adults and two children (below 13 years) is incorporated this season.
The organisers of the run are Antah Group, Majlis Perbandaran Seremban, Seremban Hash House Harriers and Negri Sembilan Amateur Athletic Association.
Other partners include The Star as official media and Suria FM as the official radio station.