Sarah Ann Chou would be among the many taking part in this Sunday’s Standard Chartered Half Marathon.

 

However, unlike her many competitors, she has a different motivation to cross the finish line.

 

Chou, 30 ( right ), has pledged her run to raise funds against human trafficking and to support NGO Tenaganita’s shelter programme for trafficked women and children.

 

Founded by prominent activist Irene Fernandez, the shelter programme has had difficulty securing sustainable funding this year following Fernandez’s death in March.

 

It is because of this that Chou has made it her goal to raise RM10,000 for the programme, which assists affected individuals regain their independence.

 

According to Chou, Tenaganita Shelter has had trouble securing funding, especially from international funding bodies that had previously supported the programme.

 

“We have lost of funding in areas of human trafficking since Malaysia is now considered a developed country.

 

“The funders prefer to focus on more needy nations like Vietnam and Cambodia,” Chou told Malaysiakini .

 

As a result, the shelter has had to rely on the charity and goodwill of churches and private individuals.

First attempt to complete 21km

 

Having worked with trafficked victims before, Chou, who is pursuing a postgraduate diploma in Singapore, said she decided to take up the cause as it is something close to her heart.

 

“I wanted contribute for a cause that really needed the money. Having seen for myself, the testimonial’s that Tenaganita produces and the ordeals that these victims go through, I felt very much affiliated to the cause.”

 

It might not be a walk in the park for her though.

 

This is the first she is attempting to run for 21 kilometres since she picked up running as a sport over the past year.

 

“I actually decided on running the whole 21 kilometres after a friend said that he would be paying me for every kilometre I ran.

“Since it was for a good cause after all, I wanted to push myself to do the most I can,” Sarah said.

 

Chou has managed to raise RM6,000 in pledges as of yesterday, and hopes to reach her target by this Sunday, through her campaign page ‘ Sarah Runs for a Cause ’.

 

KAMLES KUMAR is a trainee reporter at Malaysiakini .