KUCHING — The Catholic Welfare Services Council Sarawak (CWS) held its annual Charity Bazaar and Run for 2018 on 15 December at the compound and vicinity of ACCPC. The charity event’s aim was to raise funds for the operations and maintenance costs of Home of Peace, a residential home for the elderly poor. The Home, which is located at Jalan Landeh in Kota Padawan, currently has 27 residents, and is managed by the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak. Its annual operating costs amount to approximately RM400,000 and is fully funded by donations from benefactors and well-wishers.
The 2018 Charity Run and Bazaar started just before dawn with a Eucharistic Mass at 5:00am for all registered runners, as well as the stall operators. After the Mass, a zumba session was held to help warm-up the participants before the actual run. Archbishop Simon Poh flagged off the 3km Run for some 600 participants including children who were accompanied by their families.
At the same time, volunteer stall-operators began setting up their stalls for the breakfast crowd. A total of 32 stalls were put up, serving and selling various local delicacies to an estimated 1,500 people who came to patronise the stalls. Besides food and drinks, some stalls sold local handicrafts, toys and cottage industry products. In anticipation of Christmas, the Endless Melodies and the Cathedral’s youth group serenaded the crowd with carols while the visitors browsed through the stalls or sat down for their breakfast. Santa Claus also made his special appearance with goodies for both children and adults alike. To add fun to the festive moods, the organisers also gave away prizes for the Best Dressed Family, Male Runner and Female Runner.
The CWS also set up an Information booth for the Home of Peace, to raise awareness on the plight of the elderly poor in the society.
More than RM300,000 was raised from the event, surpassing the target of RM200,000. The CWS expressed their special thanks and appreciation to Archbishop Simon Poh for his presence at the event; Fr Patrick Heng who is the Spiritual Director of CWS, priests, sisters and parishioners who have assisted with the event, as well as participants for the 3km Run. The organisers also expressed their gratitude to their donors and benefactors for their generous contributions of cash and in kind, towards the Charity Run and Bazaar 2018.
Josh John
Today’s Catholic Vol.30 No.10 January 2019
