\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Tan Holdings family together with its president Jerry Tan participated in the run-for-a-cause, raising funds to directly help the survivors of the series of quakes felt in Nepal. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nAbout 300 woke up early to support the fundraising run, which started at the Garapan Fishing Base across Kristo Rai Church.<\/p>\n
Prior to the run, a prayer and a moment of silence were offered to those who perished and are still suffering because of the series of devastating quakes that have hit Nepal since April, including three that were more than magnitude 7 in strength.<\/p>\n
Quake experience<\/strong>
\nPramila Gurung, a waitress at Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan, was visiting her family in Nepal when the earthquakes happened in April. She told the crowd on Saturday about the horrifying and traumatizing experience she and her family went through.<\/p>\nGurung said she was on the third floor of a building when it happened. Luckily for her and her family, they were able to ran out into the open. After that, they stayed outside their house. Help didn\u2019t come until their third day on the streets, afraid of going inside buildings that were full of giant cracks and anticipating aftershocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second time was so strong. The buildings were shaking, like dancing,\u201d Gurung told the community. \u201cThat\u2019s the time when I thought, \u2018this is the last moment of my life,\u2019\u201d she said in a shaky voice.<\/p>\n
She thanked everyone for coming out to help and support her countrymen.<\/p>\n
Direct help<\/strong>
\nA $10 registration fee was paid per runner. Aside from this, raffle tickets and shirts were sold at the event.<\/p>\nAccording to the society\u2019s president, Mahesh Thapa, funds will go directly to those who need it in Nepal as they have a counterpart team there who is taking care of allocating the money to the local community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very successful event for us. We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all the community members for supporting us and participating,\u201d Thapa said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people even donated but they didn\u2019t run. And we had a good turnout with the kids,\u201d SYP chair Mable Ayuyu said.<\/p>\n
Prizes for the top three finishers included medals, hotel stays, and gifts from Nepalese culture including a karuwa, which is their traditional water jug, and a khukuri, which is an old knife mainly used during World War II.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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