The Philippine Embassy in Canberra, led by Ambassador Belen F. Anota, joined hands with Couples for Christ (CFC)-Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) Australia in raising funds for the benefit of its scholars in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands by participating in the Canberra Times Fun Run 2013 held on 8 September 2013.

The Canberra Times Fun Run, sponsored and organized by The Canberra Times, the leading local newspaper in Canberra, has become a much-awaited annual event for health enthusiasts and fundraisers alike since it was launched in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the newspaper.

Participants in the Fun Run were able to raise funds as organizers donate a percentage of the proceeds from the registration fee to the participants’ chosen charity. Participants were also allowed to invite friends to make a donation. The Embassy was able to raise a total of AUD2,605, enough to support the financial requirements of 3 scholars for one year.

Wearing “I Will Walk for a Scholar” shirts, Ambassador Anota and the rest of the Philippine Embassy personnel finished a 5-kilometer walk-run course. Among the Embassy participants, Mr. Joper David, husband of Ms. Madelaine David, the Embassy’s passport officer, crossed the finish line the fastest with a time of 34.22 minutes.

This year’s Fun Run was participated in by about 5,800 entrants for the 14K, 10K and 5K courses, raising more than AUD100,00 for 195 charities around Australia.