KUCHING: Old Josephians’ Association chairman Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, hopes to make the Ora Et Labora Run an annual event so that the alumni can return to the school at least once a year.
“Next year, perhaps earlier in September 2019, the OJA will organise the run again, and this time, we are going to incorporate a charity sale in the school to inculcate the Lasallian values of helping the last, the lost and the least.
“After the runners complete the run, they can still hang around in the school compound for a fellowship breakfast and shop for knick knacks,” he said when flagging off the run last Saurday.
The theme of the run was “Back to school” to encourage the old boys to return to SMK St Joseph. Also joining Sim to flag off the run was Archbiship Simon Poh.
The run attracted a total of 1,300 runners comprising students of SMK St Joseph and St Joseph Private School, old boys of SMK St Joseph and the public.
This year’s event was divided into the 5km fun run and 10km competitive run with two open categories (men and women) for the public to make it more interesting.
There were also the Old Josephian category and a category for existing St Joseph students (boys and girls).
All runners who finished the run received finisher medals while the top five finishers in the 10km competitive run received additional cash prizes and trophies.
For the open category, the first prize winner walked away with RM350 cash, followed by RM250 for the second prize, RM200 for the third prize and RM100 for both the fourth and fifth places respectively.
Meanwhile for the Old Josephian category, the first prize winner went home with RM200 cash, RM150 for the second prize, RM100 for the third prize and RM50 for both the fourth and fifth places respectively.
On top of that, for the student category, all the top five finishers received trophies worth RM200, RM150, RM100 and RM50 respectively.
The top five winners for the 10km women open category were Lee Leh Ha, Christabel Lim, Lavina Kong, Tang Sii Eng and Rachel Ling while the top five winners for the 10km men open category were Mohd Shahir, Chong Yen Boon, Sunny Jong, Mohd Sharif and Fakhrul Mumini.
For the Old Josephian category, the top five winners were Tan Jit Ping, Ian Chang, Andy Yeo, Ashari Osman and Henry Au Yang while the students’ boys category top five winners were Mohd Nur Iman, Corwin Chu Ng, Masefield ak Gerry, Ayden Chun and Awang Saiful Hazwan.
The student category (girls) top five winners were Cheryl Lim Woon Yee, Aria Alexis Kuek, Nicole Hon Cai Xuan, Geraldine Rachel and Miriam Rania Lu.
The main objective of the OJA in organising the Ora Et Labora Run was to raise funds for students’extra- curricular activities.
Apart from that, the run also served as a reunion for ex-students and provided them the opportunity to render service to their alma mater.
