OPEN WATER SWIM FOR A CAUSE ON APRIL 30

OPEN WATER SWIM FOR A CAUSE ON APRIL 30
By John Pages
Cebu Sports Blog
February 23, 2011

KICK off those running shoes and put on your swimming caps; the time has come to take your athletic skills away from fun runs and test them in the open waters of Mactan Island. Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) invites all competitive and non-competitive swimmers to join the 4th OLANGO CHALLENGE, a fund raising open water swim for the benefit of the people of Olango Island.

The event will take place at Tambuli Beach Club on April 30, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Launched in 2008, the OLANGO CHALLENGE was crafted with the same dynamic as that of the open water swim category of the Beijing Summer Olympics to help promote open water swimming marathon discipline in this country. The swimming event also serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and raise awareness about the high incidence of drowning in the Philippines.

For four years now, the OLANGO CHALLENGE continues to help improve the lives of 2,300 families on Olango Island through the delivery of basic social services, the provision of sustainable income opportunities and the rehabilitation of the unique environment of the island.

Proceeds of the past Olango Challenges went to the construction and refurbishment of classrooms, the promotion and practice of organic vermiculture and the greening of Olango Island. The 3rd Olango Challenge allowed for the reforestation of 5,200 trees on Olango Island. The construction of another two-room classroom building for the public elementary school at Barangay Caw-Oy shall begin next week and should be completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.

Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge are programmed for use towards an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.

Winners of last year’s Olango Challenge include Rey Suerte and Alali Ada Villocino for the 1.5K. Competitive Category; Jason Ong and Lorhiz Echavez of the 2.5K Competitive Category; Nikita Dacera. and Erika Lukang of the 5K Category and Franz Baguio of the 5K Fun Category.

Interested entrants of the 4th Olango Challenge may join the 2K and 6K competitive, competitive relay or the fun categories. Registration is pegged at P500.00 for the 2K and 6K competitive swim, P500.00 for the competitive relay category and P2, 000.00 for the fun category. Discounts will be given to those who register on or before April 8, 2011.

To join the event, interested swimmers may visit the PBSP office at the fourth floor of PLDT, Juan Luna Ave., Mabolo, Cebu City or the PASA office located at Rm 201, Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Ave., Pasig City. Online registration is available via email at pbspvro@pbsp.org.ph or pasainc@gmail.com. Visit the event’s blog site at http://olangochallenge.wordpress.com/ for downloadable forms and updated
information.

For personalized information, please look for Riva of PBSP at (032) 232-5270 or 232-5283 or Alex of PASA at (02) 687-7403.