On the 26th of August this year, the fourth edition of the Run For Inclusion is back.

Targeted at promoting the well-being and integration of Persons with Special Needs, Run For Inclusion returns under a new banner to spread awareness and understanding towards a wider group of Persons with Special Needs through the avenue of physical fitness.

This event is Singapore’s only mass running event where runners can run alongside hearing, intellectually, physically and visually-challenged runners and has been held annually by RunningHour Co-Operative Limited since 2015.

The event follows hot on the heels of the success of RunningHour 2017 which took place at Bedok Reservoir Park last year.

The Run For Inclusion 2018 event will take place at Bishan Park at 5pm in the evening and will debut a new segment along the route, the Empathy Run, where runners will undergo hearing, physical, sensory and visual challenges to experience the difficulties faced by Persons With Special Needs.

Runners can take part in the Hearing Impaired Challenge, where they will run a certain distance with earplugs on, or do the Cerebral Palsy Challenge where they will traverse on uneven terrain.

There is also the Autism Challenge, where runners will go through a sensory tunnel created specially for the event, or the Mental Health Challenge, where runners advocate support for people with mental health issues by finishing the last 400 metres of there event together with no less than ten people. 

The reason for this is because social support is an important factor in helping mental illness patients be able to cope and recover.

And of course, not forgetting the signature Blindfold Run, where runners complete the distance in pairs, with one partner guiding the other along as he or she runs blindfolded.

I took part in the inaugural RunningHour event in 2015 and this was definitely an eye-opening experience with sighted runners competing alongside visually impaired runners – some of whom had proved themselves to be really strong and capable runners, doing timings that some sighted runners could only dream of.

As well, I also remember experiencing blindfolded running and to me, it was quite disorienting and in fact, it took me several minutes to get used to relying on my other senses to walk or run. But while I can always take off the blindfold to get my sight back, the visually impaired runners cannot.

Run For Inclusion 2018 will offer complimentary slots for Persons With Special Needs, in line with previous years. This encourages these people to join in the run and promotes an active lifestyle amongst the special needs community in Singapore.

The number of complimentary slots for Persons With Special Needs this year, has also been increased from 500 to 700 and for every Person With Special Needs, one caregiver will also be given a complimentary slot too, with shuttle buses services available free of charge, at centralised pick-up points for Persons With Special Needs together with their caregivers.

And as well, the route will also be more wheelchair-friendly, in order to encourage more wheelchair users to take part in the event.

Also, the Run For Inclusion 2018 introduces a personalised distance too, where Persons With Special Needs can customise their run distance according to their preference and ability. This is so that Persons With Special Needs who may not be able to run 3.5km, will not be left out of the fun at the event.

From now till 10 June, Early Bird rates apply and these are priced from S$30 for the 3.5km Fun Walk, S$35 for the 6km Run and S$40 for the 12km Competitive Run.

Head on to https://runninghour.com for more information about the Run For Inclusion 2018 event and to find out how to register.