The country's leading national athletes, led by Rio Olympics silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz and athletes from Go For Gold, are expected to participate in the Fit.ph Bandana Run 2019 scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at Philippine Army Camp in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
"Let's run with a purpose. Let's help these kids with cancer who are now fighting for their lives," said Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, one of the organizers of the Bandana Run, during her appearance in the 22nd TOPS "Usapang Sports" at the National Press Club in Intramuros last May 16.
Tanchanco-Caballero, also the deputy secretary-general of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), said the event hopes to raise funds for Project: Brave Kids of the Philippine Children Medical Center.
"This is our second year. We were able to raise P250,000 last year and donated it to PCMC thru Project: Brave Kids. It's not a lot but we try to do our own way to help," explained Tanchanco-Caballero during the weekly sports forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOE, Community Basketball Association, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
"Hopefully we can surpass last year's field of over 400 participants -- fun runners and even serious runners," added Tanchanco-Caballero, who also heads the Philippine Sepak Takraw Association.
Tanchanco-Caballero thanked Diaz and other national athletes from Go For Gold of sports patron Jeremy Go for supporting the event.
"We're very happy for Hidilyn to help us in this worthy cause. We're being supported by Go For Gold athletes, and national athletes from sepak takraw, muay, and triathlon."
The fund-raising event is supported by Spyder, which will give away Spyder Swell shades and bandanas to the top three male and female winners of all three distances -- 400m, 5K and 10K.