Running to Make a Difference

1,000 supported the Sunway University Business School (SUBS) Student Concilium’s “Run for GOLD” event last year. The 7-km run flagged off by YB Hannah Yeoh, Speaker of Selangor State Legislative Assembly and Associate Professor Dr Foo Yin Fah, Head of Accounting and Finance Department, SUBS, took participants around the Sunway Resort City which started and ended at the Sunway Campus grounds.

Rubeinthiram came in first, clocking in at twenty-nine minutes and forty seconds with Chan Jhan Yong and Deva in second and third place respectively in the Men’s Category. Chi Mei Fen clocked in at forty-one minutes and forty-six seconds to win in the Women’s Category followed by Nur Ati Kha, second and Wong Fu Yong, third.

Jane Poh, Administrator, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Puan Hajjah Juairiah Haji Johari, Founder and Coordinator of GOLD, Low Veen Zhen, Run for Gold Event Manager, Associate Professor Dr Foo Yin Fah, Head of Accounting and Finance Dept, SUBS and Johnny Ho, President of SUBS Student Concilium with the special students from GOLD

The event raised RM10,000 for the special students of GOLD (Generating Opportunities for Learning Disabilities). Founder and Coordinator of GOLD, Puan Hajjah Juairiah Haji Johari received the contribution on behalf of Hearts of GOLD Foundation from Associate Professor Dr Foo Yin Fah and Ms Jane Poh, Administrator, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

“Sunway University has been generously contributing both funding and resources over a course of nine years and had helped us kick-start projects which led to the formation of GOLD. With their kind efforts and initiatives, we managed to put in place a conducive learning environment for our students”, said Puan Hajjah Juairiah.

Low Veen Zhen, Run for Gold Event Manager and Johnny Ho, President of SUBS Student Concilium with the top runners from the Men’s and Women’s Category

“The students, lecturers and staff of Sunway have indeed put in both inspiration and perspiration in continuing their efforts to benefit more children”, added Puan Hajjah Juairiah.

Johnny Ho, President of SUBS Student Concilium said “The Run for GOLD 2.0 is yet another successful event we, the Sunway University Business School Student Concilium 2013/2014, are proud to add into our roster of successful events. Every event is a learning opportunity, and the Run for Gold 2.0 is no different. We faced many trying challenges and tribulations in the course of planning and executing this event, including losing our principal sponsor four weeks before the event. And yet, today, we proudly handed over a cheque worth RM10,000 to GOLD.

At this moment, the Run for GOLD 2.0 is more than scribbles of ideas on a piece of paper, it is a reality that we are humbled enough to enjoy. The event would not be a reality if not for generous contributions by the Sunway Education Group, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and volunteers from the Sunway Volunteer Society. We are often hampered by our financial limitations and we’re hoping to see more organisations and companies on board to help us complete our mission” “Being a total stranger to the responsibilities of an event manager, I was rather reluctant to take the helm of the Run for GOLD 2.0 project. However, with 34 other committee members supporting me every step of the way, the event is a resounding success. The three months we spent on this project was a tiring but fulfilling journey, it has taught me so much. I would like to take this opportunity to express my humblest gratitude to Johnny Ho, President and the remaining members of the SUBS Concilium 2013/2014 for giving me such an invaluable experience”, said Low Low Veen Zhen, Event Manager for Run for GOLD 2.0

This is the second consecutive year that the Run was held and its proceeds were donated to Hearts of Gold Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by parents in 2000 for children with learning disabilities. The Foundation’s goal is to assist children with learning disabilities and enforce the skills learnt under the Malaysian school curriculum. The Foundation’s ultimate objective is to create more work and social opportunities for children and young adults with learning disabilities.

Last year, Sunway University Business School, under the auspices of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation had assisted the Hearts of Gold Foundation to develop a social enterprise business model for the learning disabled towards the cause of transforming education for special needs children in Malaysia.