(From left) Lee, Izhar Shah and Sunway Healthcare Group hospital and healthcare operations managing director Dr Khoo Chow Huat at the Sunway Elfy Fun Run event.
OVER 1,500 participants took part in the Sunway Elfy Fun Run 2025 held in conjunction with the third anniversary of Sunway Medical Centre Penang (SMCP) in Seberang Perai.
Organised by SMCP, the 5km run was held to celebrate health, learning and community spirit.
The event on Nov 16 went beyond the usual fun run experience with the introduction of the Elfy Health Quest, a series of interactive wellness stations along the route.
Each station represented a different chapter in a journey of health awareness beginning with everyday wellness, moving through recognising health risks such as stroke and heart disease, and concluding with hope and strength, emphasising the importance of cancer awareness and early detection.
Participants engaged in activities on digestive and orthopaedic health, women’s and children’s wellness, heart care and mindful movement, discovering that staying healthy can be simple, engaging and fun.
Sunway Medical Centre Penang chief executive officer Christine Lee said the event not only promoted wellness and community togetherness, but also marked the medical centre’s third anniversary.
Sho (left) with his wife Yeap and daughters Clarissa, eight, and Elena, four, during the Sunway Elfy Fun Run organised by Sunway Medical Centre Penang. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
“Over the past three years, we have grown alongside our community, introducing advanced medical technologies, expanding our hospital physically and in specialist services and continuously improving the way we deliver care.
“The Sunway Elfy Fun Run represents our vision to make health an active, ongoing part of daily life.
“It’s a reminder that taking care of our health can be fun, engaging and shared with the people around us,” she said.
Lee said every element of the Elfy Health Quest was designed to blend fun, learning, and movement, showing that awareness and early action were key to living well every day.
During the run, participants embraced the experience with enthusiasm, moving through each station, learning practical steps to improve their health, and realising that preventive care and early detection are powerful tools for lifelong wellness.
Present to flag off the participants was Seberang Jaya assemblyman Izhar Shah Arif Shah.
In his speech, Izhar Shah said it was encouraging to see the participants gathered for the fun run.
“It is inspiring to see the community come together not just to run, but to learn and take proactive steps toward better health,” he said.
He congratulated SMCP on its third anniversary where it had grown alongside the Seberang Jaya community, providing quality healthcare, fostering wellness and encouraging preventive care and healthy living for people of all ages.
All proceeds from the event were donated to One Hope Charity, reflecting the hospital’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the community it serves.
SMCP marked another significant milestone with the completion of its 200th robotic-assisted surgery, showcasing the hospital’s dedication to advancing healthcare through precision technology and innovation.
Spotted at the Sunway Elfy Fun Run 2025 were engineer Sho Zee Liang, 37, and his family who arrived as early as 6.15am at the centre’s lobby.
Sho, who lives in Perai, said since his wife Yeap Li Jun, 37, works as a nurse at the hospital, his family had been participating regularly in many of the hospital events.
“I like to encourage my family especially my two daughters to live a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
IT executive M. Dhinesweri, 29, turned up at the event with her two friend, who joined the run to keep fit while supporting the hospital’s community outreach initiatives.
“We try to make time for activities like this because it motivates us to stay healthy and it’s more fun when we do it together,” she said.
Dhinesweri said such programmes helped raise awareness about the importance of active living among young working adults.
Orthopaedic specialist Dr Ahmad Fauzey Kassim, 51, said the event was part of Sunway’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties with the community and promote a healthier lifestyle among the public.
He added that the event could be a platform for the hospital to showcase its technology to the community.
“This is how we bring the hospital closer to the community by creating awareness, encouraging active living and introducing innovations that can benefit patients,” he said.
