Weeklong Baguio-QC anti-smoking run starts today

MANILA, Philippines - A weeklong run from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City to the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) office in Quezon City starts today to drum up support for healthy lifestyles and smoke-free communities.

“We hope to promote healthy lifestyle. It is cheaper for anyone to do that than to suffer from illnesses. Through this campaign, we hope to achieve smoke-free communities,” PMA governor Dr. Leo Olarte said.

Some 10,000 runners are expected to participate in the nine-leg “PMA2PMA Smoke-Free Philippines Health Advocacy Run,” which ends on Sept. 24.

Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, who will lead a core group, said runners will stop in the communities along the way to meet with local government officials and Church leaders to discuss the need for them to initiate efforts toward healthy living.

He added that they will encourage local officials to come up with or implement ordinances to regulate smoking.

“My brother died of lung cancer due to smoking. I am a volunteer of the PMA in this smoke-free crusade. I am running with them around the nation to make people realize the clear and present danger of tobacco smoke,” Reyes said.

Dr. Elizabeth Ifurung-Gonzales, president of the PMA-Makati Medical Society, said they intend to “show to the entire nation that non-smokers are indeed the majority of the Filipino population and that same majority would want a smoke-free Philippines for the greater good of the Filipino people.”