Fun run hopes to help smokers ‘kick the habit’

MANILA—The first Kick the Habit Fun Run unfolds on Nov. 14 around the Newport City commercial and residential complex inside the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.   The run aims to convince chronic smokers to kick the habit and instead focus their efforts on running, said RunnerSpeak host and race organizer Ron delos Reyes in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila.   “With 17 million smokers in the country, we hope that our event will raise public awareness of this pressing health issue and encourage them to quit by running,” he said.   The event will have an unconventional feature as participants in the women’s 3K and men’s 5K races will be paired off with smokers. There will be no winning time and the pairs will be crossing the finish line together.   “Every smoker who wants to quit needs the support of friends and family for him to be able to reach the goal of a smoke-free life,” Delos Reyes said.   Listing is at the North Face store at the SM North, ROX at Bonifacio High Street inside the Fort, all Fitness First branches and Time Depot at SM Mall of Asia.