I-Club runs for poor children

By Oliver T. Baccay

Tuesday 26th of June 2012

TUGUEGARAO CITY, June 26 (PIA) -- To reach out to the poor children in the province of Cagayan, the Informers' Club (i-Club) has initiated a "Fun Run for a Cause," a fund-raising activity for selected marginalized schoolchildren.

The i-Club is a media organization under the supervision of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) region whose primary thrust is to help government and the civil society in information dissemination and advocacies on programs and projects.

The media members said they want to help socially not only through news reporting but also in simple civic activities. But because the organization is barely one year and does not have enough fund to finance the activities, the group agreed to conduct fund-raising activities with the help of partners agencies and individuals who share this club’s thrust.

The fun run is the first fund-raising activity that is planned to finance the medical mission to be conducted in the remote barangays in Lagum, Penablanca, Cagayan, an area without a hospital and health clinic. The group has also planned to conduct school supplies and slippers distribution to some identified deserving in-school children.

The project was conceptualized when the group found out through their immersion in the remote barangays that there are children who go to school without slippers and with old school supplies. They have also interviewed sick individuals in the barrios who cannot afford to go to the hospitals for check-up.

On the other hand, Edmund Pancha, radio broadcaster and club board of director, said the group got out from their usual responsibility of getting news reports and then disseminating it for public awareness and education. He emphasized that the organization’s objectives include participation in the government’s thrust of poverty alleviation.

“This is also one of our efforts and contributions to the convergence effort of the government and civil society organizations in the struggle to combat poverty in the province,” Pancha said.

Purita Licas, club chair, stated that the activity is just a start of the long process of the organization’s dream not only to feed information to the public but also to bridge services to the poor children and realize their simple dreams through the club’s simple way.

The medical mission is set on the second week of June while the school supplies distribution will be on the third quarter of the year. Baccay further mentioned that series of activities will follow up to the end of the year. (TCB/OTB/PIA-2)