Timex Run accepting donations for typhoon victims

An important announcement from Timex:

Dearest Friends,

Marikina City has been my home for most of my life and it fills me with great sadness to witness and experience first-hand, the tragic events that occurred over the past weekend.  In one sweep, many lost their homes and the lives they’ve always known.  Some have to deal with the painful loss of friends and loved ones in the midst of the tragedy that struck our beloved city.  Now, more than ever, I’ve realized how fleeting and fragile life can be.  And despite both of my cars needing major repairs and the first floor of our house looking like a huge mess due to the flood waters that ravaged our subdivision, I am still better off than most of people in our neighborhood.  As I stood on top of a rock outside our house surrounded by a raging stream of flood water, seeing the far worse conditions experienced by my neighbors, I remember telling myself that it doesn’t matter anymore if Typhoon Ondoy takes away my Speed Racerand Bubble Bee and suck them completely under water.  Losing my precious cars is nothing compared to the suffering that other people went through, some of which I painfully saw with my own eyes.  It was truly heart-breaking and I can’t help but be thankful that I am still one of the luckier ones.         

In line with the surge of relief operations from kind-hearted and selfless souls all over the Metro, the 2009 Timex Run will be accepting donations in cash and in kind, to aid our displaced brothers and sisters in Marikina City during their time of need.  To start the ball rolling, the 2009 Timex Run has decided to allot a portion of the event’s proceeds to the affected Marikina residents.  I am also donating 40 sacks of rice and about 700 singlets to several barangays within Marikina City, but more help is needed to reach as many victims as possible.  Items such as ready-to-eat food, rice, noodles, potable water, clothes, blankets, beddings, towels, and other basic necessities will go a long way to help our fellow Filipinos get back on their feet.  Volunteers are also more than welcome to offer their time and energy to help pack relief goods and distribute them to the different barangay halls and evacuation centers in Marikina.

All 2009 Timex Run registration sites will be accepting your generous donations.  I am also opening my home at 46 D. Macapagal St. Vista Valley Subdivision, Sto. Nino, Marikina City, if you wish to send them in bulk.  All participants, including friends and family, are invited to the distribution of relief goods on November 15, 2009, 1:00pm, at the different barangay halls and evacuation centers in the hardest hit areas in Marikina.  These include:

·   Industrial Valley
·   Tumana
·   Concepcion
·   Calumpang
·   Nangka
·   Sto. Nino
.   Sta. Elena
.   Tanong
.   San Roque

Thank you so much for your willingness to help us reach out to the countless victims plagued by Typhoon Ondoy.  May God bless your homes and keep you safe.  More power to the running community!
 

Sincerely,

Rio De La Cruz
Timex Ambassador/ Race Director
2009 Timex Run

Athletes in Need of Help

a paralympic athlete with Coach Joar (pic courtesy of Coach Joar)

The true spirit of Bayanihan is again more alive now among us Filipinos as brought about by the devastating results of typhoon Ondoy. A testament to this are the overwhelming support that both government and non-government agencies are receiving from people from all walks of life.

Among us runners, there are also activities currently on-going and planned to provide as much help as we can possibly give. There is the effort of Second Wind Running Store to accept donations for the victims of the typhoon and also there are certain groups who are planning to hold runs for the purpose of raising funds for the victims (see thebullrunner’s related post). These are all great activities for a great cause.

Still, unknown to most of us, there is a small group of athletes who greatly need our help. As advised Coach Joar Calvadores, there are athletes with disabilities who have been victims of the typhoon too. They are in need of our help especially because just like the other victims, they were not able to save most of their belongings too.

Our dear athletes with disabilities are in need of the following:

- food
- clothes (even your used/unused singlets)
- old shoes/slippers,
- blankets

or anything that may be of help for them to be able to start over. You can bring/send your donations or items you want to give to the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled – National Paralympic Committee (PHILSPADA) office at Rm.101 Building E, Philsports Complex (formerly ULTRA) or you can contact the PHILSPADA office at 6364884 or 6350375 or you can hand it over to Coach Joar Calvadores when you do your practice run at the ULTRA Track Oval.

The past few days have been so hard for most of us who have been affected by the storm in one way of the other. Me and my family even have our own “victim-story” to tell. But thinking about what these athletes with disabilities are going through right now, I know that I and my family are so many times over lucky to have come out of it still whole. So I encourage you folks to join me in providing or even help seek help for them.

Finally, let me end this with Coach Joar’s words – “Tulong tayo…” (Let us help.)

Second Wind Running Store’s Public Service Act

Many of us have been affected by the disaster that typhoon Ondoy has brought upon us. Our family have been one of those whose home have been under almost knee-deep flood. But we are still so lucky compared to those who suffered worst. I have been practically out of touch from the outside until last night that when I checked my email today, I was glad to receive one from Hector Yuzon, main man of Second Wind Running Store encouraging us to extend help in our own way to those who may need it. Here is the full context of Hec’s email :

Greetings friends in the running community.

In light of the typhoon that has left most of us emotionally drained, we would like to encourage the running / multi-sport community to pitch in and help out.

Kindly help us spread the word that we are extending help to our friends who were affected by the typhoon ondoy.  Lets maximize however we can help, announcements in your blog, multiply, tweeter, or your status in facebook will be greatly appreciated.
 
Secondwind will be accepting donations:

-          blankets
-          singlets, jerseys or shirts
-          old footwear
-          food
-          other items that can still be used

we will be accepting until Thursday (end of day) and will donate to ateneo thru Neville Manaois, PUR team principal, secondwind teammate and ateneo professor.  Volunteers to pack and help transfer goods on Friday will be most welcome.  

Maraming salamat in advance sa lahat ng tulong na maaari niyong mabigay.  

Salamat.

wait for it to kick in
- secondwind

hector
mobile:
0917-8hector (8432867)
0922-4128213
shop # 799-2089
email:
secondwind.proshop@gmail.com
site:
www.secondwindrunningstore.com
www.thesecondwind.multiply.com