Media Release: Standard Chartered KL Marathon “Run For A Cause” Initiative Opens For Registration

Kuala Lumpur, 6 May 2015 – Malaysia’s premier running event, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM), is calling all runners to take part in its ‘Run For A Cause’ (RFAC) charity initiative. The programme is a community initiative to bring runners and individuals from all walks of life to raise funds for a cause.

This year, the four participating beneficiary partners and their causes are:

• The Standard Chartered Foundation – Funds raised will be used for the awareness of autism

• Hospis Malaysia – Funds raised will be used to provide palliative care for patients and training for healthcare professionals

• The National Cancer Society Malaysia – Raising funds for the expansion of the Survivorship programme

• EcoKnights – Funds will be raised for the Seletar Project; focused on providing the basic education needs and safe living condition for Orang Asli Seletar.

Since its inception, SCKLM has been providing a fun and healthy platform for all runners, individuals and corporations to support a charitable organisation of their choice and to raise awareness for its causes.

“Every year SCKLM becomes bigger, and it has become a well-supported event among the runners. With so much visibility, we wanted to pay it forward with the ‘Run For A Cause’ programme with all our charity partners” said Rainer Biemans, Director of Dirigo Events Sdn Bhd.

“Standard Chartered Bank is proud to be the title sponsor of SCKLM again, and we hope the ‘Run For A Cause’ programme will inspire and motivate runners to not just run for themselves but also for their chosen beneficiaries and causes.” said Mahendra Gursahani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia.

Runners and corporations interested in running for a cause can do so by visiting www.kl-marathon.com.

This year marks the seventh installation of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon, and the race attracts over 35,000 runners locally and internationally.

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon is the only running event in Kuala Lumpur to have won the ‘Platinum Award for Events Category’ of the 2014 Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards.

More information on the causes and beneficiaries:

Funds raised will be used for the awareness of autism

Standard Chartered Foundation, formerly known as the Standard Chartered Trust Fund is one of the returning charity partners in SCKLM this year. The Standard Chartered Foundation is the charity arm of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad. The foundation identifies and channels financial support to community programmes that require aid. Runners across the nation who would like to support the cause will be championing for Autism Education in Malaysia.

To date, Standard Chartered Foundation works strategically with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to increase awareness and provide better education accessibility for the autism community in Malaysia. Funds will be channelled to the development of autism focused books and training programmes, amongst other initiatives.

Funds raised will be used to provide palliative care for patients and training for healthcare professionals

Hospis Malaysia is returning as a RFAC charity partner for the third time. Having established itself over the years, Hospis Malaysia is a strong advocate for professional palliative care. The charity organisation acts on an approach to improve its patients’ quality of life and their families who are facing challenges associated with life-limiting illness.

Striving to focus on advancing the research, education and improved training for its cause, the cost of this programme me is projected to be more than RM 3 million.

Using SCKLM 2015 as a platform to raise funds and awareness, Hospis Malaysia is expecting to treat more than 2,200 patients in Klang Valley and to train over 1,000 healthcare professionals in the country in the area of palliative care.

Raising funds expansion for Survivorship programme

Established in 1966, the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) is the first cancer related NGO in the country that provides education, care and support services for people affected by cancer.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, and supported by a network of 5 branches nationwide, the charity body also raises public awareness through education on prevention, screening and early detection of cancer.

NCSM is looking to raise funds to help empower individuals and those affected with cancer through the Survivorship programme via four different centres – Resource and Wellness Centre, Cancer and Health Screening Clinic, Nuclear Medical Centre and the Children’s Home of Hope. Runners who choose to support the cause will contribute to NCSM’s Survivorship programme which targets to help and support a greater number of cancer patients.

Funds will be raised for the Seletar Project; focused on providing the basic education needs and safe living condition for Orang Asli Seletar
Founded in 2006, EcoKnights’ objective is to provide an environmental outreach programme for communities and corporations to raise awareness on the cause of environmental issues.

Runners who choose to run for this charity body will help fund the welfare and capability enhancement programme, focusing specifically on the Seletar Project. The project is an environmental initiative between EcoKnights and Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MHB) with the objective of providing the basic education needs and safe living condition for the Indigenous First People (Orang Asli Seletar) who form the fishing community of Kampung Pasir Putih in Johor. The goal of the Seletar Project is to gradually improve quality of life for the indigenous communities.

Corporations are also welcomed to support the ‘Run for a Cause’ initiative by joining the Corporate Challenge category. Corporations will be able to compete in the race event as a team by supporting one of their selected charity partners and giving back to the community at the same time.

For more information or to register for ‘Run For a Cause’ and the ‘Corporate Challenge’, please visit www.kl-marathon.com to support the programme and contribute towards a good cause.