MANILA, Philippines - The Earth Day Run of the National Geographic Channel (NGC) fires off tomorrow with professionals, students, health buffs and weekend runners making up the bulk of more than the 10,300 field set to answer the starting gun at the Bonifacio Global City.
The huge roster doubled the turnout in the event’s inaugural staging last year, underscoring the public’s positive response to NGC’s call to help save the environment and raise awareness on the need to care about the planet.
The 21K run, added this year to accommodate the growing number of middle- and long-distance runners, will be flagged off first at exactly 5:10 a.m. with assembly time at 4:10 a.m.
“The interest that this year’s edition of the race generated an even greater number of participants. In fact, we had to turn down requests for registration extension and re-opening of slots in all race categories,” said Jude Turcuato, territory director of Fox International Channels-Philippines.
Other events on tap are the 3K, 5K and 10K. The 3K will have an assembly time at 5 a.m. and will start at 6 a.m. at the NBC tent and end on 26th Ave. The 5K will be fired off at 5:45 a.m. with assembly time an hour earlier while the 10K will be assembled at 4:30 a.m. with the start set at 5:30 a.m.
The Earth Day Run, presented by PLDT MyDSL and held in partnership with BGC and Greenbelt, is one of the many local foot races that have drawn a huge field as thousands have joined the running bandwagon the last few years with fun races and competitive events held almost every other week.
in various parts of the metropolis.
But this particular fund-raising event, backed by Petron Turbo Diesel, Canon, Prudential Guarantee, 1st Endurance and Cushe, stands out among the rest since it will not only help in urging the people to care about their health but also “to show our planet we care about its health.”
Part of the proceeds of the event will also benefit The Mind Museum, the country’s first world-class science institution which will house a wide collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance set to open late this year in Taguig.