KUALA LUMPUR – During these pandemic-ridden times, overall mental health has become a growing concern for so many people, including university students.
According to former national badminton player, Daphne Ng (pictured above), students are not excluded from psychological distress stemming from their social interactions and academic pursuits; these experiences can stifle their growth and affect their careers in the future.
In an effort to create awareness, Daphne is inviting university students nationwide to join the Skechers Inter-Uni Team Run on September 10-30, 2021.
“The virtual run is so much more than just encouraging movement and promoting a healthy lifestyle among university students,” said Daphne.
According to the full-time sports consultant, “it is a drive for emotional and social connection”.
“As they are more connected, they will be able to improve not just their physical and emotional wellbeing, but mental health too,” added the former athlete.
Skechers Inter-Uni Team Run is a collaboration between American footwear company, Skechers, and WYNN Sports Management, a sporting event management company co-founded by Daphne and her friends, Sabrina Chong and Wong Howe Nguong.
Following her previous experience as a national player, Daphne said she felt the calling to organise this movement to encourage students to stay active by connecting with other people, even if it is through a virtual platform.
“We are so thankful to Skechers for getting on board with our plan and sharing the same values towards raising awareness on mental health among students,” said Daphne, who has a degree in sports science and a masters in sports psychology.
“We want to be able to foster a sense of belonging (with their respective universities) and hope to reach out to more (students) so we can get through these difficult times together,” added Daphne.
Speaking to The Vibes, Daphne said they were inspired to launch the virtual run after attending a webinar that discussed mental health issues among university students.
After participating in a few virtual runs during the pandemic, Daphne and her friends feel that the experience would be immensely helpful to the students.
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only created uncertainty in working adults concerning their livelihoods in the future, it has had similar implications on university students as well.
For most of them, the campus is more than just a place to learn; it is a place for them to connect and form long-lasting relationships after their university education comes to an end.
Registration for Skechers Inter-Uni Team Run is open from September 1-20, 2021. Students may either register to participate in the individual 10km category or set up a virtual team − comprising 5 to 10 members − to complete an accumulated distance of 200km within 20 days.
For more details or to register for Skechers Inter-Uni Team Run, visit http://getbiib.com/events or call 010-3686298 and stand a chance to win prizes up to RM25,000. – The Vibes, September 31, 2021.
