Over 280 runners join Baguio fun run for baby with liver disease

BAGUIO CITY -- Aside from maintaining good health and wellness, more than 280 runners joined the fun run aimed at saving the life of a seriously ill baby.

 "All proceeds of this fun for a cause will go straight to baby Ariel," said Dianne Datu, social media officer of Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. on the sidelines of the event on Saturday.

 The run started at 4 a.m. with the last runner reaching the finish line at 7:30 a.m.

The fundraising event to celebrate the company's sixth anniversary is aimed at helping raise PHP3 million for the operation of baby Ariel Fetesan of Baguio City, who is suffering from biliary atresia, a congenital liver disease.

 Baby Ariel turned one year old on September 12.

 "The company was struck by the effort of Ariel's parents who are doing their best to raise funds to make baby Ariel live," Datu said.

 The fun run will raise money through the registration fee worth PHP350 for the runners in the three-kilometer distance and PHP500 for the five-kilometer course.

An initial donation of PHP70,000 from the Roque group, an organization of Baguio runners was also given to Baby Ariel.

 Chona Pagadian and Vilma Garo, mothers of special children who also joined the fun run, said they have been joining running events in the past for wellness and health of their children who are persons with disability (PWD).

 This is aside from the good feeling of helping others who are into humanitarian causes.

 They said they were sponsored through the Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC 5) to run, along with their children.

 The STAC 5 is a non-government civic center providing assistance to PWDs who need to undergo therapy to help them cope with physical, mental, psychological and speech difficulties.

 "Pinaka madali para sa anak naming, pwede kaming mag slow walk or tumakbo di tulad ng ibang sports na kailangan ng training (Running is the easiest for our children because we can walk slowly or run unlike other sports that need special training,)," said Pagadian, whose son, 10-year old Jarred, has down syndrome.

 "Bonding na din ito para sa pamilya namin. Di lang kami at ang anak ko ang natutulungan, nakakagalak din na nakakatulong kami sa iba (This is a bonding time for our family. It is not just me and my son who is aided, we are also helping others)," she added. (PNA)