Who says Sunday mornings are for sleeping in?
Cheras recently transformed into a sea of vibrant masks and running shoes! More than 700 enthusiasts hit the pavement for the first-ever Mask & Dash 5KM Fun Run, a high-energy collaboration between Columbia Asia Hospital Cheras and AEON Cheras Selatan. It wasn’t just about hitting the finish line; it was a celebration of healthy living and a “housewarming” for the hospital’s brand-new building extension. From the upbeat music at the starting line to the high spirit felt throughout the 5km route, the event proved that the Cheras community knows how to move forward as one.
“This year’s run theme, ‘Decades of Care: Together We Are One,’ resonates so deeply with us. It aligns with our message that true progress in healthcare comes from decades of shared effort and moving forward as one,” said Columbia Asia (Region 1) Regional CEO Puan Engku Marina Engku Hatim.
She added, “Through this collaboration and our expansion, we aim to bring care closer to home, making it easier for families and individuals in our community to access quality healthcare and preventive services.”
Also in attendance were CAH Cheras COO Mr Sean Yoong, and Majlis Perbandaran Kajang Councillor Mr Jack Tan.
From left, CAH Cheras Chief of Medical Services Dr Amir Ramli, MrSean, Puan Engku Marina and Encik Amran
Off with a bang!
Some 700 people took part in the run
Participants began gathering from 6:30 am, greeted by upbeat music and an energetic crowd. After a lively warm-up session, Puan Engku Marina and Encik Amran Latif, Senior Manager of AEON (Central Region) Mall Operations, delivered short welcome speeches to address the crowd. Then, after, the atmosphere was set: cheerful, festive, and filled with anticipation!
The flag-off took place at 7:30 am in front of Columbia Asia Hospital Cheras, with perfect weather to kickstart the morning. Runners made their way through the 5km route, passing significant landmarks in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, such as AEON BiG and Lake Valley, before heading towards the finish line at AEON Mall Cheras Selatan, located just opposite the hospital.
Families, children, teenagers, working adults, and even senior runners joined in. Notably, Puan Marina also participated, running alongside the public; a gesture that underscored the spirit of community partnership.
A sporting crowd
Prize winners of the Best Dressed female category
Adding colour to the event was the ‘Mask’ theme, with many participants showing up in vibrant, creative costumes despite the morning heat. A few fully embraced the theme with elaborate masks and were later rewarded in the Best Dressed Competition, which crowned winner Zairulaswadi Zulkapli for the male category and Hasliza Abdul Hamed for the female category. Both winners received prizes valued at RM300 each, while other notable participants won prizes worth RM100 to RM200.
Every finisher proudly walked away with a medal, along with a goodie bag filled with items sponsored by AEON’s retail partners.
The excitement continued with a lively lucky draw session, where participants were invited on stage to claim a range of attractive prizes.
A productive morning for all
The event wrapped up around mid-morning, leaving participants energised and satisfied, marking a strong start to what both organisers hope will become an annual community tradition.
Columbia Asia Hospital Cheras and AEON Cheras Selatan express their appreciation to all runners, families, partners, volunteers, and sponsors who made this fun run a meaningful celebration of health, togetherness, and community spirit.
