Jainab (centre), Samri (seated left), Fariz (seated second left), together with Shaklee Corporate Support Relations officer, Zaid Manaf (sixth left), MPMS executive secretary, Joanne Lee (sixth right) and other guests promoting the Walk Wheelathon 2015.
KOTA KINABALU: Go wheelchair wheeling or walk for a good cause in the Walk Wheelathon 2015 themed ‘Citizens Against Rape and Violence’, and get a free set of Shaklee supplement products if you are among the first 2,000 to register.
Organised by the Majlis Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Sabah (Community Service Council or MPMS) in collaboration with numerous organisations, the walk will be flagged off at 6 am on September 19 (Saturday) at the Likas Bay public park.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference here yesterday, Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, said the walk is organised in conjunction with the Welfare Month of September, as one of the various awareness programmes planned for the month.
“We want an environment more inclusive of and less challenging for the physically-challenged,” she said, adding that there are still buildings and premises in the State that are not disabled-friendly and lack facilities that could assist the disabled but instead make it more difficult for them.
Apart from that, the theme ‘Citizens Against Rape and Violence’ is hoped to be able to create more awareness on children’s rights to be protected from any form of negligence, abuse, violence and exploitation.
“There is need for better understanding that rape and violence are not ‘women issues’. We need to understand that the root of the issue is family and the society. We need to teach our children self-respect and how to respect others more, then maybe we will be able to decrease rape issues in our society,” she said.
Jainab also brought up issues of parents selling their children into prostitution for money, stressing her repulsion against such desperate actions by certain parents.
In the 3.6 kilometre walk, participants can choose to walk or wheel. However, wheelchair provision is only limited to 30 units. Hence those who wish to wheel are advised to register and apply immediately.
Registration fee is RM40 per head for early bird and RM50 per head for registrations after August 31, 2015. Those who register in groups of six people and above will only have to pay RM35 per head.
Each participant will receive a pair of dri-fit t-shirt and the first 1,500 people to register will receive a Walk Wheelathon 2015 bracelet.
Shaklee, being one of the main sponsors of the event will be giving away a set of Shaklee supplement products consisting of Vita-Lea Iron, GLA Complex, Peppermint Ginger Plus and Chewable Vita-C, to the first 2,000 people to register for the walk.
The RM556,520 contribution by Shaklee is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives under the “Shaklee Cares” banner, to create a healthier Malaysia.
MPMS is also calling on for more organisations and individuals to sponsor the Walk-Wheelathon, by making a RM3,000 contribution to sponsor the purchase of a RM21,000 racing wheelchair for paralympic athlete, Samri Butak, who finished third in the Borneo International Marathon’s 42 kilometre full marathon’s Men Open category in 2013, and fifth in 2015.
Donations can also be made to sponsor 50 physically-challenged persons to participate in the walk at RM2,000 or contribute a general sponsor of RM1,000.
Other interesting activities will also be held on that day, including Muay Thai demonstrations, Mix Martial Art and Blast FX, Fuze Fitness, as well as the appearance of cosplayers by CAUSEplay KK, and special recognition for the 10 best decorated wheelchairs, as well as the best dressed walker or wheeler.
This year’s Welfare Month main chairperson, Fariz A. Rani, said the event will be different from previous years as it will be walking or wheeling for a cause beyond that of the disabled community.
“Normally where the disabled community is involved in such a programme, it is for the cause of the disabled. But this time, the disabled gets to walk together with the rest of the community for a cause that is the concern and responsibility of the bigger community. It’s an inclusivity that the disabled appreciates,” said Fariz.