Long-distance runner Kelven Abela, 75, will be participating in the 21km category of the Pink Run on October 5 in Tagbilaran City. Well-wishers noticed his old running shoes and later did something about them when they visited his residence in Dagohoy City. The photo on the right shows him holding medals from previous marathons. —Photo by LEO UDTOHAN, a ROMALTURAS group of companies
TAGBILARAN CITY—A 75-year-old farmer has become the oldest Boholano resident to complete a marathon in the province.
Kelben Abela of Barangay Candelaria, Dagohoy Town, Bohol Island completed the 3rd Alturas Pink Run on October 5th. He participated in the 21 km division and clocked 1 hour 56 minutes.
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As he crossed the finish line to a crowd of congratulators, many in the crowd also focused on Abella’s running shoes, which were all worn out and looked like they were just laced up.
Although Abella had other shoes, he preferred to wear his old shoes to races because they were light and comfortable, and “they took me to faraway places,” he said.
Kerben was just 14 years old when he started participating in marathons in the province and other regions, including Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City.
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Despite his age, he still participated in last Sunday’s Pink Run and Breast Cancer Awareness.
“It’s great to see everyone so happy and passionate about taking part in the Pink Run. It’s such a worthy cause and I look forward to continuing to support it.”
token of gratitude
When Abela, a former boxing trainer, is not running long distances, he can be found growing bananas on his 20-hectare farm in Candelaria.
He and his wife Pilar (66) have five children: Ruben (42); Lubelin, 40 years old. Rodel, 36 years old. Lisa, 34 years old. and Leah, 33 years old.
Alturas Pink Run organizer Mary Grace Ido Bernardes said Abela has been participating in the marathon since 2022. The annual event, held in October, is part of the local Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“At 75 years old, he is more than just a runner. He is a source of inspiration for all of us. Tatay Ruben’s tenacity shows us that there are no limits to what we can do,” Bernardes said. spoke.
On Thursday, four days after the race, Bernardes and his team visited Abela in the village to show their gratitude by giving her food and new shoes.
Social media personality and fellow marathoner Al Moralde came all the way from Cagayan de Oro City to personally hand over two pairs of shoes to Abela.
This year’s Pink Run attracted approximately 3,000 participants in three categories: 5K, 10K, and 21K. (According to Bernardes, a foreign athlete three years older than Abela competed in the 10K category.)
what drives him
The fundraiser, which collected P800 per runner in registration fees, was held for 30 cancer patients currently undergoing chemotherapy at various medical facilities in Bohol.
However, organizers decided to waive the participation fee again when Abela, who first expressed interest two years ago, confessed that she had almost declined to participate because of this.
The 70-year-old said he plans to return next year, noting that the very prospect of competing, and contributing to a worthy cause, seems to have amazing health benefits.
“I’m going to keep running for as long as I can,” Abela said. “I’m part of the community.”
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Free medical checkup and ultrasound examination
Also, in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink Zumba will be held on October 12th, and a symposium is scheduled for October 19th at the ICM Activity Center of the government-run Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City. .
Free health checkups and ultrasound examinations will be available during the symposium.
