Parm raises funds for PWD's again

CEBU, Philippines - When Dr. Renald Ramiro sent a text message inviting me to a lunch meeting at Merto’s last Wednesday, I said yes without thinking! I remember that at about this time last year, I had the same invitation.

The venue has changed but the program was the same. Dr. Ramiro, who heads the Philippine Association of Rehab Medicine (PARM) in Cebu, would be turning over the proceeds of PARM MOVE runs in Bacolod and Cebu last year to PWD’s.

With Dr. Carmelo Barcenas and Elda Anota assisting him, Dr. Ramiro handed over to Adela Avila-Kono and Arnold Balais the symbolic check amounting to P67,000. Of the total amount, P20,000 came from the MOVE Masskara Run in Bacolod City in October and the rest from the 2nd MOVE Run in Cebu last November.

This year’s contributions may not be that much but then the amount is only half of the story. What matters is the effort to raise the funds. With this year’s proceeds PARM Visayas has raised P180,000 for its Critical Illness Fund for PWD’s.

So far, five PWD’s including two children were the recipients. Sad to say, a girl that PARM tried to help last December expired on Christmas Day in a hospital in Iloilo. A few days ago, I received an e-mail from Dr. Ramiro saying that another PWD will receive assistance.

Over lunch, Dr. Ramiro said PARM would likely extend its fund-raising runs to Manila in July. The venue is still a toss up between Quezon Circle and UP Diliman but that’s how fast the movement has expanded. There are talks of running in Iloilo, Leyte and Samar as well.

After the customary picture taking, Dr. Ramiro thanked all those who helped the fund-raising runs. Gerry Canonigo of Pfizer and Malu Pepito of Trans Pharma were there and it’s just appropriate that they get acknowledged for their support. I think Gerry has taken up running after witnessing two PARM MOVE Runs in Cebu.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank all the runners who patronized the Cebu edition of MOVE Run last November at the Park Mall. The participants weren’t as many as last year’s because of another run conducted on the same day but I know those who ran are aware that they are helping PWD’s when they signed up.

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I’d like to congratulate Atan Guardo and Joel Garganera for finishing the Hong Kong Marathon last Sunday. I would rather let my tukayo Raffy Uytiepo give us the details in his next column. Suffice to say, Atan and Joel survived the climbs and the time control stops. In these stops, runners who didn’t make a certain time limit are picked along the way and boarded on a bus, to clear traffic.

Atan and Joel were three minutes over the 5:30 mandatory time but crossed the finish line in time. Atan and Joel, during the press conference at City Sports, vowed to finish the marathon even if they have to crawl. Both men made it on their feet!

Congratulations to Leizel Getaruelas and Mendel Lopez as well. Leizel finished third in her category while Mendel came in fifth. CERC runners also crossed the line, kudos to all you!

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