USM, PENANG, 20 November 2017 – The Peace Road Charity Run Penang 2017 was held recently at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Main Campus. The run was jointly organised by the Asia Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN) USM Chapter, Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles of Penang (CARP).

Over 1,000 participants came together under the spirit of peace and unity to take part in this running event, held at the USM grounds which served as the run route. Many of them had gathered at the USM Minden Field even before dawn to run in the 7-km race. 

The run also served as a fund-raiser to assist charitable organisations, namely Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children’s Association of Penang and Ajar-ajar Malaysia (which provides free tuition for underprivileged children).

The Chief Executive Officer of APUCEN, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai said, the Peace Charity Run was initiated 3 years ago in Korea and today the Peace Run has been carried out in more than 130 countries promoting global peace. This is the very first time it has been held in Penang and USM is honoured to host the event.

"This is a Fun Run to promote peace. Each of us believes that it is more than just a run; deep inside each of us, we believe in promoting 1Nation1Heart for Peace," she added.

Meanwhile, according to a participant, who only wanted to be known as Mr. Wong, this is an awesome running event that can satisfy both the internal desire for peace and the external need for exercise.

Said another participant, Siti Sarah, this run provided a good platform for all runners to get together and share the spirit of togetherness and also to strengthen the ties among family members and friends, by getting fit and healthy through running.

Aside from the run, a lucky draw was also held offering attractive prizes such as laptop, bicycles, rice cookers, mobile power banks, thermos, backpacks, infuser water tumblers, stainless steel food containers and 3D Trick Art Museum free entry tickets.

Among those present at the run were the representative of the Chairman of Penang Port Commission (PPC), Dato’ Philip Kang Chun Keong; Overseas Director of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Malaysia, Yutaka Yamada; Deputy Director of Penang Youth and Sport Department, Vijayan Kumar Nambiar a/l Nadarajan Nambiar; Director of USM Sports and Recreation Centre, Muhamad Mohd Hanif; Advisor of CARP Penang & Ajar-ajar Penang, Wendy Koay; President of the Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children Association of Penang, Ng Fook On; and Peace Road Charity Run 2017 Main Sponsor & ODR Lubricants Business Development Director, Darren Hah.

APUCEN is a regional network of academic institutions of higher learning concerned with promoting the culture of university-community engagement in a proactive, inclusive, holistic and participatory way.

With its current membership of 92 from 19 countries, APUCEN will continue to seek for corporate sectors as well as NGOs to be its members, with the aim of working together to conduct more Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities that would have an impact on the society at large.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah & Tan Ewe Hoe