Tabal invites runners to join ‘Chairs of Joy’

Mary Joy Tabal and her trainer John Philip Dueñas are spearheading a footrace which aims to help Barangay Guba Elementary School acquire more chairs. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Cebuana Olympian Mary Joy Tabal is inviting running enthusiasts to take part in the first footrace she is initiating dubbed as “Chairs of Joy” slated on Nov. 20 at Sumilon Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City.

The event will serve as a fund raising activity as race proceeds, which will be matched by the Rotary Club of Cebu and Motorace Philippines, will be donated to the Guba Elementary School.

The cash donation will be used to acquire more chairs for the school.

The 27-year-old SEA Games women’s marathon silver medalist and the first Filipino marathoner to compete in the Olympics is a native of Barangay Guba, a mountain barangay in Cebu City.

Tabal started learning the sport of running in Barangay Guba Elementary School.

Tabal told Cebu Daily News she needs at least 350 runners to meet the targeted number of chairs that will be donated.

“It’s my way of thanking the community. I want to help these kids of Guba Elementary School also and teach them the value of sharing because maybe in the future, they too can do the same,” Tabal said.

Registration fees are pegged at P450 for the 10-kilometer race, P350 for 5k and P300 for 3k.

The first 100 finishers in the 5k event will get medals.

Medals will also be given to the first 200 finishers in the 10k category.

Registration is going on at RUNNR in Ayala Center Cebu, Metro Hub in AS Fortuna, Mandaue City, Motorace Maxi Mart in Gorordo Avenue, Honda Motorworld in Mandaue City, Ford Cebu and Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).