KUCHING: The first ever Press Run 2008 come January 27 is open to everyone. The event is expected to attract about 2,000 participants in the three categories. The organising committee, after a meeting  here on Friday, had stressed the event is a public event and that anyone can sign to take part in the run, jointly organised by six daily newspapers in Sarawak.
The three categories are the Men’s Open (15km), Women’s Open (10km) and Children’s Open (5 km) and todate entries have exceeded the 100 mark.
The event aimed at promoting sport and fostering unity, goodwill and harmony, is to be flagged off by the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The event is expected to draw runners from all walks of life and age groups ranging from children to teenagers, young adults and perhaps even the elderly.
The dailies supporting this event, seen as a curtain raiser for the state’s 45 year of Independence within Malaysia celebrations come 2008, are Sin Chew Daily, United Daily, International Times, Berita Petang, Utusan Sarawak and Eastern Times as the main coordinator and secretariat.
With six regional Sarawak-based daily newspapers involved, the event is currently being promoted spontaneously among readers in three languages namely, English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. The newspapers boast a combined circulation exceeding 150,000 and a readership far exceeding 300,000.
The run aims to also raise funds for schools in Sarawak as it is supported by the Association of Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions.
The technical marshal of the  Press Run 2008 is the Sarawak Amateur Athletic Association (SAAA) which will referee and umpire run and clock in runners and the winners among them.
Other organisations supporting and coordinating the run’s logistics, include The Malaysian Red Crescent Society and the Sarawak Scouts and Girl Guides Movement.