Kids from Tabal’s grassroots program to benefit from RC Goldline Half Marathon

ORGANIZERS of the RC Goldline Half Marathon said it will give part of its proceeds to the grassroots running program of Cebuana Olympian Mary Joy Tabal.

The running event is slated this Sunday at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu grounds.

Christian Paro-an, president of RC Goldline, held a press conference yesterday at the Golden Prince Hotel together with Tabal and her coach John Philip Dueñas to officially announce their partnership.

Originally, proceeds of the race would have gone to the Cebu City Sports Commissions’ (CCSC) grassroots program to be used for the purchase of sports equipment.

“Aside from giving the proceeds to the CCSC grassroots program, which Tabal is also part of, we will also provide support to the kids who are under Tabal’s running program,” Paro-an said.

Tabal, the gold medalist in women’s marathon in the 29th Southeast Asian Games, and the CCSC under Chairman Edward Hayco initiated the grassroots program in 2015 in Barangay Guba and other areas of Cebu City. This was done to help less fortunate kids become athletes.

“Chairman Hayco told me that they lack chess equipment. So we will use the funds to purchase that,” Paro-an said.

Paro-an added that young athletes under CCSC’s grassroots program will get free slots to the race.

“They told me they will select who can join the run, but I told them to let all the kids of CCSC grassroots program join the run.”

The footrace is part of RC Goldline’s 20th anniversary. Distances offered are 3 kilometers, 6k, 12k and 21k.