Intent to help, not speed, will be rewarded in Thailand World Run event

RATCHABURI, THAILAND— This is one race where the fastest runner will not be declared the winner.

Each runner is already a winner upon registration when the intent to contribute to the event’s goal is signified.

After two years of for-employees-only races, the Allianz World Run has opened the third edition of the run, walk or hike event for everybody willing to make life better for the beneficiaries of SOS Children’s Villages, a global organization that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and protects their rights.

The event, both digital and physical, is open to everyone at least 16 years old. To join, the runner must connect his Runstastic fitness application to the event website. Once registered, the free app can start tracking all activities that will accumulate points for the Allianz World Run.

Allianz, a financial services company, will match every kilometer with the assistance needed by SOS Children’s Villages.

This Sunday at The Scenery Vintage Farm here, the Allianz World Run Thailand Series will have the digital and field races for the benefit of Thais with Disabilities Foundation. It hopes to surpass the 2017 edition where employees ran a total of 1.3 million kilometers that were converted into 20 million baht (about P32 million).

Last year, all World Run participants totaled 1,373,262 kilometers. So far, the total distance covered this year after 90 days is 1,065,204 by 9,590 runners from Teams Europe (6,069), Africa (284), North America (833), South America (934) and Asia Pacific (1,464).

The event is not entirely without a prize. Two runners from each team will win an all-expense paid trip to the SOS Children’s Village they are running for. The winners will be chosen from among the best 100 male and best 100 female runners.

The first SOS Children’s Village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Tyrol, Austria, in 1949. It is currently active in 135 countries and territories worldwide. SOS entered Asia in 1963. In the Philippines, there is an SOS facility inside the posh Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa.