IT&E supports NMIBF’s 4-Mile Fun Run

Member of the NMI Men’s National Team training pool perform warm-up drills at the Oleai Sports Complex track oval before training at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Tuesday. The men’s squad along with the women’s team are the beneficiaries of the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s fundraising running event set for Aug. 28, 2021. (Contributed photo)

IT&E has stepped up to support Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s first fundraising event, the Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run For Taste and Pokka 4-Mile Sunset Run that will be held on Aug. 28.

IT&E is sponsoring the entrance fees of its 15 employees that will participate in the pair of races, as the leading telecommunication company continues to rally behind community activities that promote health and wellness and benefit sports organizations.

“We are grateful to IT&E management and staff for supporting our first fundraising event. The new NMIBF board is restructuring its programs and finding ways to explore and provide many opportunities for our players, especially for our youth and having private companies like IT&E to help us have the means to implement our plans is very encouraging,” NMIBF president James Lee said.

Lee is hoping that other companies and groups will also encourage their employees and members to join the races not just to support NMIBF, but also to motive them to engage in physical activities. Studies show that promotion of physical activities among employees helps manage stress in the workplace and increases productivity.

The NMIBF’s fundraising event is divided into two categories to cater to runners/walkers in all age groups. The Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run For Taste is for runners/walkers in the 21 and over age group, while the Pokka 4-Mile Sunset Run is for under 21 participants. Both races will start and end at the Garapan Fishing Base with a turnaround point across the Army Recruiting Center in Beach Road.

The first 65 runners (for Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run) and 35 (Pokka 4-Mile) to register will get free shirts, while all finishers will get free drinks and digital certificate of the event with their finish time. The Top 3 finishers (men and women’s division) in each category will be awarded with multiple prizes. The champion in the men’s and women’s Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run will each get $50-worth of Taste of Marianas tokens, three-month gym membership at Latte Built, Michelob Ultra gear, beach chair, and a case of Michelob Ultra. The runners-up will receive $25 tokens, two-month gym membership, Michelob Ultra gears, beach chair, and one case of Michelob Ultra, while the third placers will take home $25 tokens, one-month gym membership, half case of Michelob Ultra, and Michelob Ultra gear.

For the Pokka 4-Mile run, the first place finishers will each get $50 tokens, a case of Pokka Juice and 3-month gym membership. The runners-up and third placers will each win $25 tokens plus one case of Pokka Juice and two-month and three-month gym membership, respectively.

Both races will start at 5pm and awards ceremony will be held at 7:30pm at the Garapan Fishing Base/Taste of Marianas grounds. Participants must pick up their race packet on Aug. 27 from 4pm to 7pm at the Garapan Fishing Base. Registration is still open and can be done via online at https://raceroster.com/events/2021/50057/michelob-ultra-4-mile-run-for-taste? and https://raceroster.com/events/2021/50180/pokka-4-mile-sunset-run? Registration fees are $25 per runner/walker.

Proceeds from the races will be used to fund the NMI men’s and women’s national teams’ participation in the 2022 Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands.

NMIBF’s first fundraising event is also supported by Michelob Ultra, Pokka, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Northern Marianas Athletes, and Latte Built. For more information, send email to nmibasketballfederation@gmail.com. (PR)