First City University College (First City UC) has successfully organised its inaugural First City Charity Big Walk event on Saturday, 2^nd of April 2016 in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. This 4.2 kilometre walk—the first corporate responsibility initiative carried out by the newly elevated institution to create positive public concerns towards the needs of the disabled —saw the participation of over 650 students, adults, children, celebrities and the disabled community from around Bandar Utama and Petaling Jaya.

With the theme “Arise. Walk For Hope. Walk For Charity”, the event aimed at fulfilling several important objectives, one of which was to raise and contribute funds from the walk to be donated to four institutions – Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, Lovely Disabled Home, Society of Independent Living for Disabled Selangor and Malaysia Parents with Disabilities Association.

Apart from that, the walk achieved its other goal to bring together various communities in working towards a common cause of organising an event of this scale. First City UC, being the main organiser was supported by One Utama, Centrepoint Bandar Utama, The Club Bandar Utama, One World Hotel, MPI Generali Insurans Berhad and Bandar Utama Residents’ Association (BURA) to realise this event.

First City UC’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ho Chee Cheong, who was one of the VIPs who officiated and graced the event said, “We are very honoured and proud to organise this event, as we wanted to do our part in giving back to the community. This is also a good exercise to show the students and community what we can and able to do if we join our hands together for a good cause, as we not only want to produce students who excel academically, but also compassionate and well-rounded people.”

Participants gathered from around 6 a.m., and took part in a warm-up session hosted by the trainers from Anytime Fitness. There were three flag-offs, during which the walkers were sent off on the route in batches. The disabled participants were flagged off first—most were excited and cheerful in their wheelchairs or on 3-wheeled wheelchair-bicycles; with senior citizens, families with children and ladies second and men, youth and students being the last. By 8.30 a.m., all the proud participants together with the disabled—some assisted by students–made it and arrived at the finish line, where they proceeded to collect their medals. Charity bazaars with booths by sponsors and partners were also set up, where selected vendors displayed their wares for sale. A sense of camaraderie and joy was clearly evident in the atmosphere as the participants mingled and connect with each other.

Entertainment was provided in the form of performances by Dr. Joanne Yeoh, national violinist, Daniel Lee, Huang Qi Ming, Oriental Rhythms and First City UC’s Idol Audrey Wong with her band. “I am very happy to join this walk, and be able to do my part in contributing something good to the community. I am glad to see the happy faces of the disabled walking together with us”, said Iman Arafat Jamaluddin, one of the participants.