Friday, November 7, 2008

Batik Fun Walk is back!

KUALA LUMPUR: The Batik Fun Walk is back for a sixth year this Nov 16. Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang) chief executive officer Datuk Leela Mohd Ali said the 4.5km route will take participants down Lebuh Bandar Utama, Jalan Masjid, Persiaran Bandar Utama and Dataran Bandar Utama.
“Participants will have to come early at 6.30am for registration. The starting and finishing point is at the main entrance of 1 Utama shopping centre’s new wing,” she said at a press conference in Penyayang’s headquarters here yesterday.
Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will flag off the 2,000 expected participants.
The fun walk is an annual event on the calendar of Malaysia Batik – Crafted for the World, a movement started by the Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, the late wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Penyayang chairman Nori Abdullah said her late mother Endon once said that Malaysians should take pride in wearing Malaysian batik.
“By changing the venue closer to a housing area in the suburbs, hopefully more people will come out and participate.
“Participants can help a cause while having fun as proceeds from the walk will be channelled to Penyayang Pesakit Kanser, a group that serves cancer patients,” she said.
Nori also appealed for more corporate sponsors to help with cash donations or sponsor teams for the walk.
Entry fee is RM10 per person, inclusive of a batik sarong. For groups of 10, the 10th participant will be exempted from paying while children under 12 can join for free.
The Star is the media partner for Batik Fun Walk.
For more information visit www.penyayang.org.my or call 03-8946 0222.