The flag-off by Mr Chan Kum Wing (leftmost holding TAR University College flag) and Datin Angeline Koh (right holding Yayasan CNI flag).
The instructors warming up the runners.
TAR University College students performing an energetic dance move.
Assoc Prof Dr Loke Chui Fong (5 th from right) and Datin Angeline Koh (4 th from right) planting a seedling to symbolise the pledge to green the environment.
TAR University College, together with Yayasan CNI, held the "Plant a Tree, Plant a Hope" Batik Sarong Charity Fun Run 2015 which was held on 22 November 2015 at the carpark in front of the Clubhouse. The run was organised mainly by the Sports and Exercise Science students from the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Computing with the objective of training and exposing the students in organising sports events. On a macro level, the run also aims to create awareness on global warming and the importance of green environment as well as to educate the general public on healthy lifestyle.
As the name suggests, the participants of the run would need to don batik sarong which is a unique feature of this run. Runners gathered in front of Clubhouse as early as 6.30am and they were greeted by the uplifting music blared out from the speakers at the makeshift stage. Many runners clearly gave a deep thought on how to creatively wear the batik sarong and some of them really made a statement with their highly elaborated batik sarong dresses. There were also many stalls for drinks, redemption, seedling collection, goody bags, charity haircut and even bicycle called 'Bicycle World'. Before the start of the run at 7.30am, the participants did the warming-up exercise led by 3 instructors on stage.
As the clock was ticking close to 7.30am, runners were gathered behind the balloon arch for the flag off. The runners were divided into two groups for flag off, one for the runners of 3km category and another group for the runners of 5km category. When the clock struck 7.30am sharp, Mr Chan Kum Wing, Vice President of TAR University College, flagged off the run with the runners of 3km category first followed by the 5km category runners together with Datin Angeline Koh, President of Yayasan CNI.
As the distance was not far, it did not take long for the winner of the 3km category to reach the finishing line. Yong Ee Chuan emerged as the 3km Men category champion whereas Chong Mee Chee, an alumna of TAR University College, was the champion of 3km Women category. For the 5km Men category, Daniel Lai Yew Jun, a TAR University College student, clocked the fastest time to be the champion. Chai Yen Kim took the champion prize in the 5km Women category.
The champion of the 5km Men category, Daniel Lai Yew Jun, who is a student of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Food Science, was asked what motivated him to participate in this event, he said: "As it was co-organised by my faculty and I had friends who wanted to join the run, I decided to give it a go as I am an ardent marathon runner."
There were also many performances such as singing and dancing lined up to entertain the runners to make this Batik Sarong Charity Fun Run 2015 a memorable one. There was also a symbolic planting of seedling by Assoc Prof Dr Loke Chui Fong, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Computing, and Datin Angeline Koh.
