Lazada Run promotes inclusivity for athletes with disabilities
Lazada Malaysia joined hands with Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) to organise Lazada Run, a programme aimed to promote inclusivity for athletes with disabilities.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Teoh flagged off the special 1km route that saw 40 para-athletes.
Lazada Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Alan Chan presented an in-kind donation of RM50,000 to PCM President Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman.
This contribution is in support of the TambahEMAS crowd-funding initiative anchored by PCM's mission to train and prepare the para-athletes towards securing more gold medals in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The donation will also support PCM’s effort in organising additional outreach initiatives for the disabled community.
Alan said the event was a prime demonstration of Lazada’s efforts to engage the Malaysian youth through fitness, in addition to promoting sports inclusivity for all.
"We are thrilled by the success of the Lazada Run, which was organised as a platform to inspire consumers to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
"It is heartening to see Malaysians from all walks of life turning up this morning to spend precious time bonding and enjoying a healthy recreational activity together.
"The participation of our para-athletes and the support of Hannah Yeoh reaffirms our commitment to making fitness accessible to all and to the development of Malaysian youth, many of whom are present today to walk and run with their friends and family," he said.
Meanwhile, PCM President remarked the Lazada Run was a great example of what can be done, as we strive towards building a world that not only includes but also uplifts communities with disabilities.
"As seen today, sports and fitness should be and can be for all, and we are thankful that organisations like Lazada are stepping up to raise awareness and support for our para-athletes.
"We hope to see continued support to empower and enable Malaysia’s talented para-athletes who have and will continue to make the country proud in the sporting arena," he said.
A first-of-its-kind regional running event by an eCommerce platform, the Lazada Run is a tour of six Southeast Asian cities including Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Race winners from the five cities where the run has already concluded will be flown into Singapore for the final event that will flag off on 23 July 2023.
In Malaysia, first and second place finishers of the 21km race, Poo Vasanthan Subramaniam, Nik Fakaruddin Ismail, Noor Amelia Musa, and Lee Shi Fing; and first place winners of the 10km race Mohamad Shahrin Che Abdullah and Chua Khit Yeng will be bearing the country’s flag to compete in Singapore against the other regions for the chance to win USD3,500 (estimated at RM16,000).
The top five winners of both the 21km and 10km race also won cash vouchers totaling up to RM21,200, while all runners who successfully completed the half-marathon received an exclusive 21km race medal and finisher tee.
