Big turnout for Ipoh Starwalk goodies

Ipoh Starwalk participants collecting their gifts at stations set up to distribute them. — Photos: SAIFUL BAHRI/ The Star

YOUNGSTER Edson Har may be small in stature, but he is big on enthusiasm when it comes to Ipoh Starwalk 2017.

Sacrificing his precious sleep and breakfast, the 14-year-old SMJK Sam Tet student woke up at 6am yesterday to be first in line to collect a total of eight t-shirts and goodie bags at Star Media Group’s Ipoh office.

“My elder brother dropped me off at 6.30am. He should be back sometime after 9am to pick me up,” Edson told MetroPerak while waiting for the doors to open.

Asked if he was able to carry everything on an empty stomach, Edson gave his assurance that he would do just fine.

“I’ll be alright. It won’t be too difficult to manage. As for breakfast, I’ll just have it after this,” he said.

Fourteen-year-old Edson Har (right) used his own bag to collect the gifts.

Arriving just five minutes after Har was part-time clerk Chua Ke Xin, 19, who borrowed her mother’s car as well as took time off from work to collect a t-shirt and goodie bag for herself.

“Work starts at 9am and my office is all the way in the Aeon Klebang Mall, which is why I needed to collect my goodies early and then head straight to work,” said Chua, who passed her time by chatting with clerk Lai Soon Keen and waiter Lee Kah Chong, who were third and fourth in line, and the other early birds who had gathered there even before dawn.

While the many didn’t manage to have their breakfast, a smart-thinking housewife, Tan Hui Chin, 46, cooked herself some instant noodles before dropping off her girls at school and embarking on a more than two-hour wait to collect her goodies.

The long queue outside the Star Media Group’s Ipoh office yesterday. Some queued as early as 6.30am.

“Last year, I came only after 8am and the queue was incredibly long.

“So this year, I decided to head straight here after sending my children to school.

“Past experience has taught me that the smaller sizes finish up real fast and I wanted to make sure I got the right sizes for my girls,” said Tan, who was fifth in line.

Ipoh Starwalk will be flagged off at 7am at the Perak Turf Club on Jalan Raja DiHilir this Sunday.

Dozens of staff and volunteers were on hand to pass each participant products by the Ipoh Starwalk 2017 sponsors.

The walk is organised by Star Media Group in collaboration with Ipoh City Council, Perak Education Department and Perak Athletic Association.

The Platinum sponsor for the walk is YES while the Silver sponsors are Julie’s, Counterpain, F&N, Federal Oats, Sports Toto, Sanctband, Chek Hup and Spritzer.

The Perak Turf Club is the official venue provider and Weil Hotel is the official hotel.

Participants can collect their t-shirt and goodie bags at Star Media Group’s Ipoh office at No 8-10, Lorong Chung Thye Phin, from 9am to 5pm daily until Saturday.

For details, call 05-253 0402.