KUCHING: St Joseph’s School (SJS) Mill Hill Block Restoration Fund has raised a total of RM2.5 million from the support of the Sarawak government, annual dinners and contributions from the public.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian announced this yesterday when he officiated the third edition of the `Ora Et Labora Run 2019` here at SMK ST Joseph.
“The expected sum to complete the restoration works of our Mill Hill Block is RM3.7 million and prior to this, there are funds raised from annual dinners and contributions by former students that has accumulated to about RM1 million.
“Our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who is also an old boy of the school has informed that the state government is giving a RM1.5 million grant for the restoration of the block,” he said in his speech yesterday.
Currently, RM1.2 million remains to the target amount before restoration works of the block can commence.
He stated that this year’s run serves as a reunion for ex-students and as an opportunity to render service to their alma mater.
“Last year, we had 1,300 runners and today we have 1,650 runners showing up to support our school. Hopefully next year we will be able to reach 2,000 runners,” he informed.
The run included three categories which are the 3km fun jog/walk for families and children, 5km `fun run`, and 10km competitive run with two categories – open category for the public and the Josephian category which is split into graduates and student sub-category.
Dr Sim stated that the student category is organised to promote active competition between the young Josephians aside from the school’s Sports Day and as a platform to improve themselves to represent St Joseph and to excel in sports.
“To make it more exciting, this year we added a challenge trophy sponsored by Karuna (Sarawak) Entreprise Sdn Bhd whereby the first four students from the same school who arrive at the finish line first wins and the school that wins twice consecutively will keep the challenge trophy,” he said.
Dr Sim (fifth right) and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Archdiocese Most Reverend Simon Poh (fifth left) along with others giving a thumbs-up for the third edition of the ‘Ora Et Labora Run 2019’.