Everyone showed up. . .including the rain!
Despite the heavy rain showers that early Saturday morning, more than 800 people showed up and participated in the 5k Annual Walkathon and Health Fair.
As early as 4:30 in the morning, dozens of people were already waiting at the parking lot of Kristo Rai Church even before the organizers arrived to set up the tables for the registration. This has been like this for the last 2 walkathons as people look forward to this annual event as well as the free cool shirts given away by the Health Ministry of the diocese, thanks to TSL Foundations, IT&E and 3HiRes Printing who have been among the major sponsors for the walkathon.
“This is our second time to join this Walkathon event. My three girls were also excited, and we made sure that we got here early,” says one of the participants. “This walk does not only focus on everybody’s health but also tightens family bonding.”
Indeed, this 5k Walkathon has always been a family event and also participated in not only by the faithful from different parishes but also by many others from different faith religion.
In addition to the walkathon, the diocese also organized a mini health fair. Many health partners from the community participated and set up booths to provide health screening, eye checkup, immunizations, and informational brochures among others.
“It was fun and exciting experience. Thanks for free medical checkup, we got flu shots, MMR vaccines as well as sugar test. Overall it was an awesome health fair program,” says one of the parishioners.
“The coordinators did a wonderful job in coordinating the event, from forming lines to shirt distribution,” says one of San Vicente parishioners. “The different medical providers gave us a chance to update our immunization, eye checkup, blood sugar and blood pressure test.”
This year, the organizers invited Mr. Jerry Diaz, who is a NASM-Fitness Nutrition Specialist to be the guest speaker. Mr. Diaz is a schoolteacher but at the same time a trainer at Golds Gym. He spoke about his experience with people and friends who made remarkable change in their body weight through balanced diet and consistent exercise. “Start slow,” cautioned Mr. Diaz as people normally tried to overdo physical exercises and diets in trying to drop weight immediately. He advised a slow yet consistent change in one’s healthy lifestyle.
Of course, there cannot be a walkathon without Zumba!
Once again, the local dance group Let’s Move Marianas / Forever Young energized the crowd with their Zumba dance demonstration and not even the heavy down pour of rain can stop the many Zumba aficionados who braved the weather just to follow along with the dance.
And just when Fr. Jesse Reyes started the invocation prayer, the rain stopped, and the crowd began the walk from the parking lot of the church towards Quartermaster Road and back.
“Water stations are set up nicely and volunteers were very cheerful. Thank you to all the coordinators and volunteers of the 2020 diocesan walkathon!”, says one of the participants.
The Health Ministry wished to acknowledge and express its gratitude and appreciation to this year’s sponsors: TSL Foundation, IT&E, 3HiRes Printing, Joeten Enterprises, Triple J Wholesale, Gold Ribbon, Barny’s Pizza, Saipan Ice & Water, STAR water, Raynard Aranda, Let’s Move Marianas / Forever Young, KKMP, Power 99 and KWAW Magic 100.
The diocese also wants to acknowledge the different health care providers who participated in the health fair: CHCC, Public Health, Immunization, Community Guidance Center, NMC Nursing Association, Kagman Community Health Center, Commonwealth Cancer Association, Marianas Eye and Hardt Eye Clinic.
And finally, we want to thank our many volunteers from Marriage Encounter, El Shaddai and Couple for Christ and Fr. Albert Pellazar, OAR and the parish of Kristo Rai.
