Julie Uychiat, the first Filipina to finish the World Marathon Challenge–Julie Uychiat Facebook account
MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday lauded Julie Uychiat, the first Filipina to finish the World Marathon Challenge.
In the 2023 edition of the challenge, Uychiat won four of the seven marathons.
During the plenary session, the upper chamber adopted Senate Resolution No. 471, congratulating and commending Uychiat, a nurse who hails from Negros Occidental.
“Her unshakeable grit, adaptability, endurance, and stamina are now not only seen when she dons her scrubs, but also when she wears her bib and running shoes,” Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said during his sponsorship speech.
“Nurse Julie does not only heal the skin-deep wounds of her patients. She also heals the wounded hearts and souls of the children in Negros Occidental as a benefactor of Kalipay Negrense Foundation, a non-profit organization that shelters disadvantaged and abused children,” he added.
Uychiat’s “Run for Kalipay” initiative, which is a part of her race, raised P1.6 million.
Meanwhile, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on sports, praised Uychiat for being an inspiration.
“Your journey inspires us to believe that we can achieve our goals and dreams through hard work and dedication,” he said during his co-sponsorship speech.
“Ang mga ganitong karangalan ay tunay na nakakataba ng puso dahil sa kabila ng mga krisis na ating kinakaharap dulot ng pandemya. Ang ating mga Pilipinong atleta ay namamayagpag sa mundo ng palakasan at nagbibigay ng malaking inspirasyon sa ating mga kababayan,” he went on.
(These kinds of awards make my heart full despite the crisis we face caused by the pandemic. Our Filipino athletes continue to soar in the world of strength and give inspiration to our youth.)
During the challenge, Uychiat, 43, placed first in the marathons in Dubai, Madrid in Europe, Fortaleza in South America, and Miami in North America.
She, however, placed second, third, and fourth in the marathons in Perth in Australia, Cape Town in Africa, and Novo in Antarctica, respectively.