Ilocano youth to raise funds for Marawi students

The fun run activity is inspired by this year’s IYD theme, “Youth building peace”. (PNA Photo)

LAOAG CITY, July 28 (PNA) — In time for the International Youth Day celebration on August 12, a youth volunteer association here is set to conduct a fun run for displaced school children of Marawi City in Mindanao.

Dubbed as “TEENaray: Barkada Run 2017, the three year-old Sirib Ilocano Kabataan Association Inc., led by its president James Ceasar Ventura said the fun run will commence at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Sports Center in this city from 3p.m.-7p.m.

With registration fees ranging from PHP690 for trio (three runners), PHP900 for quad (four runners) and PHP1,000 for barkada entry (five runners), over 5,000 active members of SIKA from the 22 towns and two cities of Ilocos Norte are enjoined to support the activity.

As of this posting, the SIKA membership desk located at the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office, formerly known as the Sirib office at the Marcos stadium, is now accepting registrations.

According to Ventura, the fun run activity is inspired by this year’s IYD theme, “Youth building peace”.

“This year’s IYD theme which calls for youth participation in peace building is very timely with the challenges our brothers and sisters from Marawi City are facing. Many of the children and youth cannot go to school. Those who can may bring bags, pens or paper to use,” he said citing the Ilocos Norte youth association will join the National Youth Commission and the whole country in celebrating the IYD.

A local band concert and candle light ceremonies will also culminate the activity at the Marcos Stadium.

Organizing fun run activities in the province has become an all year round project by health and wellness advocates here but this time, SIKA wants to reach out to their fellow youth in Marawi.

Last February, SIKA organized one of the most attended “Taray ni Ayat Valentine Run” in Laoag City. (PNA)