Media Release | 1 Nov 2009

Record turnout for Great Eastern Women 10K, Asia's largest all-women running event

Country ambassadors join more than 14,000 women to do their part for the "Women Against Cancer" cause

Singapore, 1 November 2009: The fourth annual Great Eastern Women 10K held at The Padang today saw more than 14,000 women take to the streets in Marina Bay and run the city. This level of participation was a record high and is an increase of 300% since the event's inception in 2006.

The run is part of the Marina Bay Urban Challenge, an initiative conceptualised by ESG Endurance Sport and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to promote the Marina Bay area as a vibrant hub for sports and lifestyle activities.

Managing Director of ESG Endurance Sport, Mr Terence Khoo, said, "Over the years, the Great Eastern Women 10K has distinguished itself to be the biggest professionally-run women's sporting event in Singapore. It also allows women to come together and contribute to a meaningful cause with the Women Against Cancer initiative."

"In addition, the event is an avenue for family bonding as we have seen a significant increase in the number of mother-daughter pairs, sisters and aunts signing up for the race," he added.

Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, CEO, URA, said, "We are pleased to see the event growing year on year as more and more people from the community gather here in the heart of the city to run for a cause. As the runners race through the city, they not only get to enjoy the beautiful city views but also feel the excitement as the new city skyline unfolds before them."

WOMEN AGAINST CANCER
The "Women Against Cancer" initiative, now in its sophomore year with the Great Eastern Women 10K, aims to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF). The funds will go towards heightening awareness of the cancer, as well as providing support for needy patients. To date, this year's event has raised close to $100,000 for BCF.

Participants had an option to donate their registration fee discounts to the "Women Against Cancer" initiative, as well as to participate with members of the public in "The Great Woman Pledge", an effort by title sponsor Great Eastern to gather declarations of pride from women from all walks of life on why "It's Great to be a Woman!" Great Eastern will make a donation to BCF for the pledges collected through this effort.

Observed Mr Tan Hak Leh, Managing Director (Singapore) of Great Eastern, "The Great Eastern Women 10K run has grown at an exceptional pace in the past few years. Besides being an event that allows women to embrace a healthy lifestyle, we are glad that the run has grown to become a platform for women to lend their support for a cause that they believe in."

Present to support the cause were country ambassadors, including H.E. Mrs Minda C.Cruz from the Philippines, H.E. Ms. Jayathri Samarakone from Sri Lanka and High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mrs Fauzia M. Sana, who participated in the 5km Fun Run. The wives of four other ambassadors from Poland, Turkey, Japan and Canada also joined them on the route to do their part for charity. They were joined by twenty-two breast cancer survivors who were dressed in their signature pink running tops, courtesy of apparel sponsor FILA.

"Showing our support and doing our part to raise awareness for the cancer is something that every woman should be involved in. We were very excited to be able to do what we can today and to reach out to women who have a second lease in life despite the obstacles they have faced," shared Mrs Cruz.

Members of the public may also contribute to the "Women Against Cancer" initiative by donating online at the event's official website: www.women10k.com. The website will be open till the end of the year or when the targeted amount of $150,000 is achieved.

PREMIUM RACE EXPERIENCE
Asia's largest all-women running event, comprising both the 10km run and 5km Fun Run, had participants pounding the tarmac as they passed iconic landmarks around the Marina Bay area such as the Esplanade and Singapore Flyer.

Adding a dash of colour to the run were 20 performers from the newly-formed Kids Performing-^TM Repertory Theatre (KPRT), who gave a preview of their upcoming musical adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

The KPRT group sang songs from the musical's repertoire as they ran the 5km route and cheered on other runners, while dressed in costume - the Lion's headgear and the official t-shirt of the musical.

ELITE RUNNERS AND TOP PRIZES
The Great Eastern Women 10K, which clocks the fastest women's 10 km road race timing in Singapore, is a premier all-women running event which has seen an increasing number of elite athletes taking part each year. The event also boasts the biggest prize money offered for any sporting event in Singapore, comprising $7,500 cash, trophies and FILA vouchers worth more than $600.

Champion of the Great Eastern Women 10K 2007, Leah Malot of Kenya returned this year for a shot at the title. The Kenyan ran an exciting neck to neck race with Anna Thompson of Australia during the last leg of the race and overtook pack leader Thompson in the final seconds to secure her second Great Eastern Women 10K championship title with a timing of 33:56 mins, a mere five seconds before Thompson.

The 37-year-old Malot was gracious about her win, saying, "I enjoy running with Anna as she's a really strong competitor. I feel really good about the race today and will definitely take part in the Great Eastern Women 10K next year."

First runner up Anna Thompson of Australia finished with a timing of 34:01 mins, followed by second runner up Catherine Omoi of Kenya, who completed the race in 35:16 mins.

Said Anna Thompson of her exciting race with Leah Malot, "The race was well organised and the course was well marked. Leah and I had a very good race and I look forward to running the Great Eastern Women 10K again."

Qi Hui, the first local runner to finish the race bagged the sixth place with her timing of 37:52 mins. Second local runner, Vivian Tang, 39, followed closely with her timing of 38:47 mins, earning her the seventh place in the Great Eastern Women 10K.

For media queries, please contact IMSG, appointed PR Consultants for the Great Eastern Women 10K Run 2009 at:

Cheryl Ng
email: cheryl.ng@imsg.sg
Hp: 9690 6489

or

Joyce Debbie Poon
email: joyce.poon@imsg.sg
Hp: 9686 8358