THEY had come with eager anticipation to take part in the 10km event at the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) 2018 at Queensbay Mall yesterday but were disappointed when the race was cancelled due to bad weather conditions.
The disappointment for housewife Fairuz Hanim Hasan, 31, and schoolteacher Khaw Weng Shi, 24, however soon dissipated when they both walked away with a Perodua Axia car each during the lucky prize draw.
“Jogging is my hobby and I’m disappointed when the 10km event was cancelled. I took part in the 21km half marathon last year and I was looking forward to the 10km this time,” said Khaw, who hails from Kulim, Kedah, but got a posting as a schoolteacher to a primary school in Penang recently.
“But now that I’ve won the car, I’m so excited. This is my first car. I’ve been using my father’s car to work.
“I must thank my lucky stars. My number was called out in a redraw because the person was not present to claim the prize.”
For Fairuz Hanim, her one-and-a-half hours’ trip from Kodiang, Kedah, to Penang with her husband, Fadrul Hashim and brother-in-law Ashraf Saad, was worth it.
“This is the first time I had entered for the Penang Bridge run. And I felt like going home after the race was cancelled. But my husband wanted to stay on for the prize giving ceremony and lucky draw.
“So, it came as a pleasant surprise to me for winning the car in the lucky draw. My husband drives a Myvi and I think we will keep the new car too.”
Both the Axia cars were sponsored by businessman Datuk Syed Mohd Aidid Syed Murtaza, who is also the president of the Penang Amateur Athletics Association.
Fairuz Hanim and Khaw were all smiles when they received the mock keys from Governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
Also present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Muhammad Bakthiar Wan Chik, PBIM organising chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail, state exco members Phee Boon Poh and Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian