Friday, July 13, 2007

Going on a run for charity

source from The STAR

The International Medical University (IMU) recently announced the launch of the IMU Charity Run & Carnival 2007, organised in conjunction with IMU’s 15th Anniversary celebrations.
IMU students have played major roles in organising the event under the leadership of IMU Charity Run & Carnival Organising Committee president Jackie Tan, who is supported by Charity Run Organising Committee vice-president Patrick Chan and Carnival Organising Committee vice-president Ng Kean Aun.
The event will be held on Sept 8 at the IMU Bukit Jalil campus. The Charity Run starts at 6.30am, followed by the Carnival from 8am to 4pm.
It aims to raise RM50,000 for two homes – Santa Jerome and Rumah Shalom – and for a village it adopted recently, Kampung Angkat Orang Asli Serendah, as well as to promote community awareness among IMU students, the faculty and neighbouring community.
So far, about RM15,000 has been raised from fund-raising activities such as the Christmas party held in December 2006, refreshments sales, and a recycling project that was started in Apr 2007.
“It’s important that we in the health and medicine sector create value to our service. It’s not only an obligation, but a privilege to be of service to others,” IMU president Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman said.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a student or faculty member; you have to be of value to your community and team, and also your family. Everyone’s contribution matters, from the support staff to the students,” said Abu Bakar, who later unveiled a banner to mark the event’s launch.
“We want to get the students away from their desks and library for a day to do a charitable act. So long as each person contributes a little, we are one step towards making our world a better place. So far, the activity that generated the most money was the Christmas party, which raised RM6,000,” Tan said.
“Meanwhile, the recycling project generated the most response as it extended to those staying in the nearby Vista Komanwel Condominiums, which has about 70 to 80% residents with their families,” Tan said.
“We’ve raised RM3,000 so far and intend to raise more as this particular project will go on till Sept,” said the second year medical student.
The Carnival will feature games and food stalls, free health screenings, lucky draws, a haunted house and performances by local artistes.
The Charity Run is divided into four categories: 7km Male Open (adult male and students from MAPCU/tertiary institutions), 7km Female Open (adult female and students from MAPCU/tertiary institutions), 5km Male Secondary School, and 5km Female Secondary School. “There will be a unique scoring system for secondary students and those from MAPCU (Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities), which is based on 50% participation and 50% speed,” said Chan, also a second year medical student.
Registration fee is RM15 for the Open categories and RM10 for the Secondary School categories.
The committee will be promoting the event via roadshows at MAPCU institutions, and forms will be distributed to secondary schools via the Federal Territory of KL Education Department.
For details and to download the Charity Run’s registration form, visit www.imu.edu.my/15Anniversary/events_charity.html or call 03-8656 7228. Registration deadline is Aug 24.

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