Sponsors line up to help Ron

Ronald Villafria’s quest to scale Mt. Fuji a second time is creating a buzz in the local sports community, not to mention much-needed support to the Filipino runner.

With his Fuji Mountain Race July 25 date fast approaching, Villaria is happy to report that more than 30 companies and individuals have so far donated financially for his Japan trip.

Aside from going the rounds of establishments the past several weeks to ask for support, Villafria is also calling on the community to take part in his Run 4 Ron II fundraiser set for this Sunday, May 24.

Villfaria said the five-kilometer race will start at the Micro Beach pavilion and will have participants run north toward the old Puerto Rico dumpsite and back.

Entry fee for the Run 4 Ron II fundraiser is $15 and will entitle participants to a free event T-shirt, refreshments after the race, and a ticket to the raffle drawing following the event.

Villafria took part in the 2008 Fuji Mountain Race, or Fuji Tozan Race, in July 25, 2009 and finished the 36-kilometer trek up and down the 12,388-foot mountain in four hours and 20 minutes.

The Mt. Fuji Marathon or Fuji Tozan Race is composed of two legs, a 15-kilometer race to the fifth station of the mountain and a 21-km race all the way to the top. The final six-kilometers of the race is also a trail run.

Villafria was one of only 6,000 participants that have been pre-screened to take part in the 2009 edition of the Fuji Mountain Race.

Last year, a total of 120 signed up for the first Run 4 Ron fundraiser with 70 taking part in the actual run.

Businesses and individuals who have already donated to Villafria’s Mt. Fuji quest, include Salon de Manila, DFS Galleria, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Hard Rock Café Saipan, LBT Appraisal, Auto Glass Pro, Fomacon Liner, GEC Pawnshop, Jazy Sportswear, Island Apparel, Coco Restaurant, Micronesian Brokers, Inc., Custom Construction, Docomo Pacific, IT&E, Bike Pro, MARPAC (Michellob), Traders Insurance, Saipan Shopping, Godfather’s Bar, Sherwin Williams, 888 Handyman Services, Western Union, Marianas Visitors Authority, Tan Holdings, Fiesta Resort & Spa, NRG-Shot (Distributed by Car Corp), Triple J, Bank Pacific, Steven Pixley, Susan Espanillo, Erwin Aquino, Bobby Mandapat, and John Ilao.