Metro

Tuesday July 24, 2012

Walk gets schools’ support

By ZALINAH NOORDIN, S. ARULLDAS and LO TERN CHERN
north@thestar.com.my
Photos by ASRI ABDUL GHANI and ZHAFARAN NASIB


SOME 600 SMJK (C) Jit Sin Bukit Mertajam students are looking forward to participating in the Penang Starwalk 2012.

Principal Tan Kim Tong said the students were excited and enthusiastic about taking part in the event.

“They are proud to be part of a popular sporting event in the country. It is also a good exposure for them,” he said.

Tan said the school encouraged the students to take part in the walk as it is a healthy sporting event which incorporated a fun carnival-like atmosphere.

“Walking along the heritage trail will also help the students learn more about Penang’s history and the early life of Penangites,” he said during the recent Starwalk roadshow at the school.

Here you are: Tan presenting the forms to Star Publications (M) Bhd senior marketing and circulation representative Rajkumar Abraham. With them are students from SMJK (C) Jit Sin Bukit Mertajam.

Tan said more than 500 students participated in the event last year.

Form Four student Evon Thean, 16, who is taking part in the event for the first time, said she signed up because she wanted to experience the thrill and have fun.

Form Three student Mah Kai Xuan, 15, who is also participating for the first time, said he had heard how fun the walk was and wanted to enjoy the heritage buildings in George Town.

St Xavier’s Institution Form Three student K.S. Ravi not only signed himself up for the walk, but also his mother S. Thara.

“I love Starwalk because it is a lifetime experience to walk with tens of thousands of people,” he said.

“I participated in the walk’s non-competition category last year and the experience got me hooked.

“I had so much fun that I managed to persuade my mother to join me in the walk this time,” he added.

Form Four student Chin How Zet, 16, who was among the early birds to sign up at the roadshow in the school yesterday, said he did not want to miss out on the event this year after failing to sign up last year.

Form Six student Khoo Yi Ian, 18, also registered her parents for the walk.

Raring to go: St Xavier's Institution students showing their registration forms.

“Both my father and I join walks and marathons and this time, we decided to rope in my mother as well,” she said.

Another student Sohanveer Singh, 14, who is in Form Two, is going to join the walk for the first time.

“I’m pretty nervous about walking alone. I hope my friends will also register,” he added.

The students, who signed up for the walk, received a badge from Rapid Penang.

The school’s senior assistant Lim Kuang Haw believed that health is wealth.

He said the school encouraged students to sign up for the walk, adding that more than 150 students had so far signed up for the event.

Penang Starwalk 2012 will take place on Sept 17, a replacement public holiday for Malaysia Day that falls on Sunday.

This year’s walk incorporates a heritage trail which is slightly different from last year’s route but it will still cover major landmarks in the city.

The starting point will be at Penang Times Square in Jalan Datuk Keramat. The walk is endorsed by the Penang Amateur Athletics Association and the Penang Municipal Council.

Participants, who complete the route within a two-hour time limit, will be eligible for a lucky draw which promises attractive prizes.

The route for non-competition walkers is 6km while it is 10km for competition walkers, and the registration fees are RM10 and RM15 respectively.

Registration will close on Aug 15 for competition walkers and Sept 3 for non-competition walkers, or when the targeted 20,000 has been reached.

The public can sign up from 9am to 5pm daily including weekends and public holidays at the Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas or The Star Pitt St. at 15, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling.

The public can also sign up at The Star Seberang Jaya at 19A (1st floor), Jalan Todak 3, (Bandar Sunway) Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya (9am to 5pm on weekdays).

They can also sign up at the Penang Times Square information counter on the ground floor from 10am to 10pm daily.

For enquiries, call Eric Voon at 04-6473388 ext 3021 during office hours or 012-5851612 (email: ericvoon@thestar.com.my).

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