UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk 2011

This is the second year we volunteered for the run. Check out our last year's blog post HERE.

We were stationed at the last point where the runners make the final turn to the finish line near Padang Merbok as road marshall. The area was not too busy, so we took out our camera for some snap-snapy session. Heheh!

Close to 700 members of United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd [UOB (Malaysia)] gathered at Padang Merbok last Sunday (27 March) to run for a good cause.

They joined some 7,000 colleagues from the UOB family in four other countries who also flagged off their Run simultaneously.

The fastest runner in UOB Malaysia. :)

For the first time, staff from UOB (Thai) joined their Singapore, Malaysian and Indonesia colleagues in the annual UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk, widening the reach of the Bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in the region.

The event was launched in Singapore in 2007, followed by Malaysia in 2008 and Indonesia in 2010.

As previous years, each staff is given a pledge card to raise as much funds as they can. Beneficiaries of UOB (Malaysia) are Protect and Save The Children Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (P.S The Children) and Persatuan StART Selangor & Kuala Lumpur (StART Society).

P.S The Children, a registered non-profit non-government organisation, was set up to create awareness on child sexual abuse. Click HERE.

StART Society is a non-profit organisation that has made great strides in providing free lessons in music, arts, dance and drama to underprivileged children. Click HERE.

These programmes are in line with the Bank’s focus on the children, education and the arts. (Insert applause here!)

There were two distances in the event, 7km (red shirt) and 3.5km (blue shirt). The different coloured shirt make it easier for us the marshalls to divert the correct runners to their respective route. :)

Most of the participants seemed like having lots of fun - walking, talking (yes we overheard them talking about $$$...Bankers! LOL) and even jumping...Heheh!

Every bit of effort and cent counts when it comes to charity. In recognition of staff’s effort, the Bank will continue to contribute RM1 for every RM1 raised.

The volunteers for the run, headed by Mr. Wan Yew Leong. Everyone is a runner who took time off to volunteer here. :D

After the race, some children from the StART Society took the stage and entertained everyone there with a choir performance.

Ultramarathon freaks listen up! We heard StART Society is planning a charity 100km run to raise fund soon. We don't have much detail about this yet. Please follow this blog for updates. :)

StART Society presented UOB (Malaysia) with two paintings in appreciation of the bank’s support towards its arts enrichment programme.

UOB (Malaysia) will continue to support P.S The Children’s noble fight against child sexual abuse via its “Keeping Me Safe” programme for primary school students.

Results of the UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk 2011

Women’s Open 7km Champion Teoh Sue Ling 30:57

First Runner-up Wong Chow Ling 36:03

Second Runner-up Fan Suet Li 37:13

Third Runner-up Irene Ong Ai Ling 43:00

Fourth Runner-up Chan Yee Shin 43:45

Men’s Open – 7km Champion Lim Chin Yeow 31:22

First Runner-up Loh Yew Bong 32:06

Second Runner-up Tham Kok Foong 33:48

Third Runner-up Azmi Bin Ismail 34:39

Fourth Runner-up Shankar Palaniandy 34:52

We hope UOB will open their doors like their doors to the banks to the public for UOB Heartbeat Run next year! I'm sure it will be very popular, all in the good name of charity!

What say you UOB? :D