Run for Sight! Run for Life!
Event Date: March 8, 2019 (Friday)
The 4th APAO Charity Run will be held at the beautiful Benchakitti Park adjacent to the meeting venue. It covers a 5.4 km (3 rounds of 1.8 km) route around a beautiful lake. All participants will receive a uniquely designed T-shirt before the event, along with complimentary breakfast at the end of the event. Participants can walk or run; those who finish the run within the official time limit will receive a specially designed medal at the finish line.
Event Venue – Benchakitti Park
Converted from parts of The Tobacco Monopoly property, Benchakitti Park makes an excellent bike and jogging spot in the downtown of Bangkok, with a beautiful lake siting in the middle of the park. Located amongst Sukhumvit’s high-rise hotels and office blocks, it offers the skyscraper backdrop behind the lake – making it a spectacular photogenic location. The park was opened in 2004 to honor the 72nd birthday of Queen Sirikit, as its development is part of a bigger scheme to improve the overall ‘livability’ of the city. To enjoy the park, it is around 15 minutes walk from BTS skytrain – Asok station, while only meters away from Queen Sirikit National Convention Center – our venue of APAO 2019 congress!
The park will be closed for renovation for a few years after this charity run event. So this running event is very special because it will be the last running event before its facelift.
To experience the run around the park, please click the clip below.
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Time table
| 06:00 ‐ 06:10 | Meet at Registration (around Gate 6, opposite of RETRO Live Café)* |
| 06:10 ‐ 06:15 | Welcome remarks |
| 06:15 ‐ 06:20 | Warm‐up (lead by Young Ophthalmologists) |
| 06:20 ‐ 07:20 | 5.4-km run/walk |
| 07:20 ‐ 07:25 | Cool down |
| 07:25 ‐ 07:50 | Photo taking & prize presentation; breakfast |
Route
The distance around the park is about 1.8 km. To finish the run, participants have to walk or run 3 rounds – about 5.4 km for each round.
Limited Event T-Shirt
Due to the size of the park, number of participants will be limited to only 300.
Example of T-shirt
Please note that the T-shirts are pre-ordered, with limited quantities for each size. Participants who register late may not get the selected size. So please register early online to get a T-shirt to fit your size! On-site registration at the charity run registration desk is possible if the target participants of 300 is not reached. Please see the T-shirt size chart below.
Prizes & Awards
Participants are divided into 4 categories: (1) Young Ophthalmologists (<40 years), (2) Ophthalmologists, (3) Senior Ophthalmologists (≥65 years), and (4) Non-Ophthalmologists.
All participants who finish the 5.4 km distance within the official time limit will receive a medal.
Various prizes will be awarded in the following categories*:
| Race Awards | Young Ophthalmologists / Ophthalmologists / Senior Ophthalmologists / Non-Ophthalmologists
Overall Male and Female Category Winners |
| Fundraising Awards | Top Individual Fundraising Award |
| Top Group Fundraising Award | |
| Top Corporate Fundraising Award | |
| Participation Awards | Top Most Supportive Group Award |
| Medal |
* Only awards for the top 3 winners from the above categories will be presented at the prize presentation ceremony.
Example of trophy for winners and top fundraisers.
Example of certificate for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places.
All participants (walk or run) who finish the full 5.4 km within the official time limit will receive a uniquely designed medal which can be detached and used as a keychain.
The Beneficiary
This year, all donations raised by the charity run will be shared between the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association and the Thammasakon Hatyai School for the Blind in Thailand:
Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association
Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province was struck by a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake in September 2018, triggering a tsunami and landslides that caused widespread destruction and loss of life. Half of the funds raised in the APAO2019 Charity Run will be donated to support the relief efforts. The funds will be wired to the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association.
Thammasakon Hatyai School for the Blind (Thailand)
Thammasakon Hatyai School for the Blind is located in the South of Thailand. Since its opening in 2016, the School has been looking after and providing education for 80 blind students. Half of the funds raised in the APAO 2019 Charity Run will be donated to the School to help renovate their shabby kitchen and improve the overall environment and hygiene around the School for the students.
Please note that each top fundraiser (individual, group, corporate) will receive an APAO logo trophy.
