KUCHING: About 1,500 runners participated in the Silent Run 3.0 Kuching Edition which took place at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) ground yesterday.
Organised by the Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) in conjunction with the International Week of Deaf People, the event was a continuation of the Miri and Sibu editions held on Sept 1 and 8 respectively.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah flagged off the runners at 6am.
The charity run was divided into two categories, namely, 3KM and 7KM. All participants received their medals after completing the run.
The event aimed to raise funds for the needy among the deaf as well as to provide opportunities for all deaf communities throughout the state to participate and work together to ensure the success of deaf awareness programmes.
The first Silent Run was held in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri in 2016 with a record of 8,000 participants. It successfully raised enough funds for Sarawak to host the 19th Malaysia Deaf Games (SOPMA) in Kuching that same year.
The second Silent Run, held in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri in 2018, attracted 3,600 participants.
The runs were also open to hearing participants to enhance interaction and strengthen the great bonds and relationship between the two parties.
The International Day of Sign Languages (1DSL) has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and will be celebrated annually on Sept 23, beginning this year.
The objective of the IDSL is to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen the status about sign languages.
Also present at the Silent Run yesterday were SSDeaf president Albert Wong Tuong Chui, SSDeaf vice president cum organising chairman Dexter Nuing Lyrym Paong, Southern Region SSDeaf (SRS) president Wan Arif Mahmud Wan Umar and Silent Runners Club representative Ko Ming Liang.
