Nat Geo Earth Day run to benefit DAtE

MANILA, Philippines - The Design Against the Elements (DAtE), a global architectural design contest aimed at providing solution to the problems presented by climate change, will be the main recipient of the Earth Day Run firing off April 18 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay.

Jude Turcuato, the organizing FOX International Channels Territory director, said funds to be generated from the event will help build in Taguig inexpensive, sustainable, eco-friendly and disaster-resistant model houses that can withstand calamities like last year’s Ondoy flooding.

The Nat Geo Run, staged by the National Geographic Channel on a theme “Inspiring the People to Care about the Planet,” is the latest of a series of events in the local racing calendar. But it stands out among the rest as it is staged not only to promote physical fitness but also to urge people “to show our planet we care about its health.”

The roster has swelled to over 3,000 heading into the final week of the event with the organizers extending the listup to April 15 at the Nike outlet on Bonifacio High Street to accommodate more entries.

Registration at Timex outlets at SM Mall of Asia and North EDSA ends tomorrow while on-line listup at www.natgeorun.com will run until April 14.

Events on tap are the 3K, 5K and 10K races, with entry fees of P500 for 3K run, P600 for 5K and P700 for 10K, inclusive of a limited edition Earth Day Run technical shirt.

The event, held in celebration of the Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, is expected to lure students, professionals, athletes, celebrities, health buffs and weekend runners.