Run to help marine life conservation

(From left) Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia co-founder and executive director Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, EUM Realty executive director Peter Pan Ngee Mun, Ter, Hishammuddin Zaizi, Blossomly Global founder Shirene Moong, and Tak Nak Straw and Sampah Menyampah co-founder Carolyn Joan Lau cutting the ribbon at the launch.

THE Ocean Hero Conservation Run will be held at Sunsuria City Celebration Centre, Sepang on March 2 in 2019.

The 4km charity run, themed “Plastic-free Ocean”, aims to educate caring Malaysians about the serious issue of plastic pollution that affects the entire ocean and to protect the ecosystem and ecotourism, an effort in line with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #14 on Life Below Water.

The announcement ceremony was attended by guest of honour and patron Tengku Datuk Hishammuddin Zaizi Azman Shah, accompanied by Sunsuria Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap, business development director Ter Shin Nie and marketing director Mandy Phang.

The Conservation Run is expected to attract over 5,000 participants from different age groups.

“Sunsuria strongly believes in sustainable practices,” Ter said, citing Sunsuria City was designed as a Green Building Initiative (GBI)-compliant township that incorporates energy-efficient features to reduce wastages and preserve the ecosystem.

“Therefore, to continue this principle through our township, we hope Malaysians will see the importance of protecting marine life in order to ensure a healthy ecosystem for the environment,” Ter said further.

This initiative is to emphasise the importance of conserving marine life and ocean sustainability, in order to promote ecotourism projects in Turtle Conservation Village located in Kemaman, Terengganu, managed by Turtle Conservation Society Malaysia (TCSM) and dolphin edu-trip in Kuala Sepetang and dugong nature excursion in Pulau Sibu, Johor by MareCet.

There will also be roadshows and workshop activities to educate corporations and colleges and universities about the conservation mission. On the day of the run, participating non-governmental organisations will organise mini games and arts and crafts session for participants to learn about the importance of conserving SDG #14 Life Below Water.

Through this Conservation Run, event management company Blossomly Global has pledged to donate RM5 for each participant registered to selected beneficiaries such as Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCSM), MareCet, Tak Nak Straw and Sampah Menyampah.