1 USI HALF MARATHON: One In Mission

One of the virtues of running is how painlessly it can be utilized for good. How it can be facilely deployed  as a fund-raising activity by a community for the purpose of helping others.In fact, for many a newbie runner, their first encounter with an organized fun run is one that is being used for a particular cause. Hundreds of races take their name and/or mission from the charities they support.  Google the words "Run for a Cause" and the entries you would see vary from Run for Cancer, Run for the Homeless, Run for Veterans, Run for a Drug-free Society, Run for Peace and hundreds more.  Hundreds of thousands of runners find motivation, inspiration and approval from dedicating their personal race to a greater cause.

One such runner and one such community are Dr. Gilbert Balid and his 1994 high school batch in Unibersidad de Sta, Isabel School of Pili (formerly known as St. Catherine Laboure School). Fellow row5runner Doc Gilbert and his batchmates are organizing a half marathon scheduled for Nov 11, 2018 in Pili, the provincial capital of Camarines Sur.  Called 1 USI Half-Marathon, this fun run will be used to raise funds for the various medical missions of their 1994 high school batch.  There are 3 distances:  3kms, 8kms and the half marathon (21kms). 

Dr. Gilbert Balid - a consummate runner with a kind heart. 

Every Holy Week and Christmas time, the said batch conducts medical mission(s).  They select specific sitios in the various rural barrios of Pili and also in the neighboring municipalities of Bula and Ocampo .  By Dr. Gilbert's estimate, their batch has helped  11 barangays. This number will surely continue to grow. No doubt, helped by the funds raised from the fun run and sustained by the altruistic energy of its youthful proponents. 

Distributing medicines and...

...slippers at Hacienda Salamat, Palestina, Pili. 

To help his SCLS Batch 94  organized the Nov 11 fun run, Dr. Gilbert has tapped fellow row5runner and Runconada leader Cyrus  Nacario to be the Race Director.  Although fairly new in being a race director, Cyrus has proven his mettle with the very successful running of the 1st Mt. Asog 360 50km Ultramarathon back in February this year.  The Race Director expects at least 100 runners for the half marathon alone. While registration activities are proceeding at an eager pace, the last registration date is being targeted for Nov 4. 

Race Registration activity in SM Naga 2nd flr. (weekends).

RD Cyrus Nacario promoting the 1 USI Half Marathon at a local running event in Sorsogon City. 

There you have it.  The 1994 high school batch of St, Catherine Laboure School led by Chairperson Ramon Canabe, Vice Chairperson Gilbert Galid, Secretary Ping Rosales, Treasurer Marico Barbonio and Working Committee members Robella Naldo, Melyjo Jardinel, Cherry Bicaldo, Aniano Largo Jr., Roy del Socorro and Mike Hosmillo,  and supported by its 200+ batch members, is hard at work to have a successful fun run, not just for its sake but more importantly for the benefit of the numerous barrios in their community. 

SCLS Batch 94 - the smiles are telling of a story of the eagerness to help.     

The SCLS Batch 94 is one with its community in its mission to be true to its school motto - Caritas Cristi Urget Nos.