KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Some 3,000 people are expected to spend the evening jogging around the neighbourhood in Ara Damansara for a good cause, when the annual Mou Man Tai Charity Run returns tomorrow.
Having started nearly five years ago with just 16 people going for a fun run in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, the event has since grown so big that they can afford to raise substantial funds for charity, according to Ernest Ong, who owns pub chain Tom, Dick and Harry’s which organises the run.
“The last run we had (last year), 2,000 people joined us and since the turnout was big we decided we might as well have a cause. The last (charity) we worked with was the Malaysian Aids Foundation,” he said when contacted.
“This is a fun run and it’s family-oriented. You’ll have people pushing strollers, walking their dog... the run is just a symbolic gesture for the charity,” he added.
This year, Ong expects the run will raise at least RM60,000 to help the Shelter Home for Children, which provides shelter for minors who are physically abused, abandoned and neglected.
At the end of the run, participants can continue to have fun at a street carnival where they can, for a fee, take part in a host of activities, such as an eight-foot bag jump.
While they eat, the participants will be entertained by “some of the top musicians in town”, said Ong while being tightlipped about who exactly will be performing.
He did, however, volunteer that the musicians will put on a special act with some of the children staying with the shelter.
