Manila, Philippines - “With something as simple as taking a step to join Walk the World, every individual can help children in conflict-affected areas of Central Mindanao stay in school and get out of hunger,” said TV host and UN World Food Programme (WFP) National Ambassador Against Hunger KC Concepcion.
KC, together with other celebrities like Vince Hizon and Richard Gomez, government and media partners including The Philippine STAR, came together to promote awareness of hunger and to raise funds to feed vulnerable school children around the world. The funds raised by more than 3,000 Filipinos who gathered at the SM Mall of Asia will go to WFP’s emergency school feeding program in the conflict-affected provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
This year, Walk the World Pilipinas included a 10km group run as well as the 2km walk and 5km fun run. The 10km group run allows ten runners in a group, through their registration fee of P10,000, to “adopt” schools among the three hundred WFP-assisted schools. Seven groups The STAR, Island Cove, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, Unilever Philippines, Business World, Philippine Daily Inquirer and JobsDb joined the 10km run.
“Ten pesos is all it takes for WFP to provide one nutritious hot meal for a child in school. The 10km group runners have in a way adopted schools for a day, by providing 1,000 hot nutritious meals to children, which helps get them back to class after a long period of displacement due to conflict,” said Stephen Anderson, WFP country director and representative.
“Providing nutritious meals in schools means these children have a much better chance of getting an education, as the meals help them stay alert and healthy,” he said.
Walk the World is a joint effort by WFP and its global corporate partners, led by TNT, Unilever and DSM. This year, thousands of people from 80 countries walked in 24-time zones, within 24 hours.
Cetin Yalcin, country general manager of TNT Express Worldwide Philippines, commented, “This Walk started as one man’s quest to help bridge a gap and help give a brighter future for thousands of children around the world. We are thrilled to see everybody, from private sector, government, NGOs and celebrities, walking or running in this year’s Walk the World.”
“One in seven people (adults and children) go to bed hungry each night. The money raised from Walk the World will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children it was fantastic to see the level of support for such a worthwhile cause,” said Carl Cruz, managing director for foods of Unilever Philippines.
Hunger kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.