Christmas wish comes true for young runner

Twelve-year-old Peter Salazar got his Christmas wish yesterday when he was able to get for himself a pair of Nike Air Shox Walx shoes.

But unlike what he initially thought, Peter did not need to part with the P1,500 prize money he won last Sunday when he captured the 3K Kiddie Run at the 26th National Milo Marathon.

Peter was able to get the pair of Nike shoes for free, courtesy of Nike Philippines. Not only that, Peter was given more reason to feel merry this Christmas because Nike gave him P5,000 gift certificate for him to buy any Nike product he wants.

Nike Philippines got in touch with Peter after reading an article in The Philippine STAR which detailed how Peter intended to get a new pair of shoes using his P1,500 prize money and would ask his father, a Manila policeman, to shell out the rest of the amount.

"When we read the story, we knew this was a kid worth giving this Christmas gift to because his is a story of a young athlete persevering to reach his dreams," Colo Ventosa, Nike marketing manager said.

Peter is indeed a young achiever. This is the second year the 5-foot kid has won the 3K run. Because of his running skills and perseverance, Peter was able to secure a scholarship from San Sebastian College. Next year, he will start competing in the high school division of the NCAA.

"Peter is the kind of athlete that embodies what all athletes should have in their hearts — a dream to reach and a determination to succeed," Ventosa said.

Asked what he felt about Nike’s "Christmas gift," Peter could only mutter a muffled thanks but there was this glimmer of happiness in his eyes.

"We are glad The STAR wrote about his story. Peter is a kid worth emulating and we are pround that he wants our shoes on his feet," Ventosa beamed.