Columbia Asia’s Run for Our Little Heroes; Diabetes Awareness Run ‘16

November 21, 2016

In conjunction with the World Diabetes Day on the 14th of November, Columbia Asia organized a 5km family fun run -- Run for Our Little Heroes; Diabetes Awareness Run 2016. The event was held at Taman Botani Negara in Shah Alam yesterday morning. This CSR effort by the private healthcare company supports underprivileged diabetic children under the auspice of Diabetes Malaysia.

Since we started our Diabetes Awareness campaign in conjunction with World Diabetes Day about five years ago, we have met some very brave and courageous children who have had to cope with their diabetic condition,” said CEO Columbia Asia-Southeast Asia, Mr Kelvin Tan. “Having to live with diabetes, the children brave through a daily routine of injecting themselves with insulin as many as three times a day. They are heroes indeed; and so it goes that all heroes should deserve a tribute.

Both children and adults made the effort to dress up as superheroes. It was amusing to see characters from Avengers and X-Men. Electra was chatting with Storm, while Batman and Incredible Hulk moved to the Zumba beat to warm up. Though not exactly superheroes, Zorro, Cleopatra and Super Mario stole the show too! Asides from the Best Dressed competition, other highlights included jumping castle, giant bubbles and carnival games.

Diabetes Malaysia President, Prof. Dato' Dr. Ikram Shah Ismail, received a mock cheque worth RM30,000 from Tan. Accompanying him was Columbia Asia’s children’s club’s mascot, Zoey the Parrot. “Diabetes Malaysia started the Diabetes Children Fund in 2008,” said Prof Ikram. “So far we have spent about RM 855,000 to provide free monitoring devices (glucometers, strips, needles and lancets) for about 400 children and adolescents with diabetes.” Clearly, managing diabetes requires money which may be a struggle to underprivileged families. And that’s where Columbia Asia comes in.