CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The stage is set for the return of Run for Mother Earth (RUN4ME) 2025, an environmentally focused running event that combines health, community, and environmental action. On April 27, 2025, runners, families, and environmental advocates will once again lace up their shoes to celebrate the powerful connection between a healthy planet and thriving communities. 

Branded with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet: Himsug na Kinaiyahan, Kusgan nga Katawhan”, the second installment of RUN4ME builds on the success of its inaugural run in 2024, which had 800 participants from across Northern Mindanao come together to celebrate Earth Day and support critical environmental initiatives. 

Organized by Samdhana Institute and Circle Productions, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, environmental organizations, government agencies, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), and with support from corporate partners, RUN4ME is more than just a fun run—it’s a movement to continue restoring and protecting the watersheds in CDO and neighboring municipalities. Last year’s run featured two race categories—5K and 10K—and raised Php 498, 624 in funds to plant 1,130 seedlings of endemic trees in three tree-growing activities, dubbed “Plant4ME”.  This year, RUN4ME aims to expand its impact, with proceeds once again supporting tree-growing efforts of Higaonoan and Talaandig-Manobo communities in Bukidnon and Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The first launch of RUN4ME in 2024 was funded by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), an organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. 

“We came up with the second run because [this time] we want to invite a larger crowd, to go beyond our partners,” Irika Acaylar, Resource Mobilization Officer at Samdhana Institute, shared. She also added the success of its initial launch played a key role in their decision to pursue RUN4ME this year. “We look forward to having more participants for this year’s run and engaging more people with our tree-growing activities,” Acaylar expressed. 

Unique to its nature, RUN4ME was considered the cleanest running event in the city in 2024. From its first launch, there were no one-time use (OTU) plastic bottles, or even PET bottles, used by the participants as the organizers actively encouraged runners to bring reusable containers and provided for refilling water stations. At the end of the event, volunteers actively cleaned up, and there was also no garbage in sight within the venue. 

RUN4ME serves as a platform to raise awareness on pressing environmental issues, including climate change. This year’s key focus is the Cagayan de Oro River Basin (CDORB), one of the country's major river basins, with a total land area of more than 137,383.90 hectares. The basin covers neighboring municipalities such as Baungon, Libona, and Talakag of Bukidnon and a small portion of Iligan City, Iligan Lanao del Norte. 

The Philippine government has identified the CDORB as one of the country's priority river basins. The CDORB is crucial to the region's ecological and economic stability. However, due to climate change and several human-induced activities, such as unsustainable agricultural practices and unregulated use of agricultural lands, forests, and waters—over 70% of its total cover is facing irreversible land degradation. Through RUN4ME, organizers seek to raise awareness and mobilize action for conservation and mitigation efforts with nearby communities of the CDORB. 

This year, RUN4ME will have a change in its race categories. Instead of having 5 km and 10 km, the categories are changed to 3 km, 6 km, and 12km.  With the rising trend of people getting into running within the city, the categories are meant to cater to a diverse population of runners. 

Encouraged by its partner organizer,  Circle Productions, the 6 km and 12 km distances allow seasoned runners to seek more challenge. While the 3 km is intended for young people to join and to make the run family-friendly for those bringing their kids along. 

RUN4ME virtually launched on February 14 through its Facebook Page, Run4Me (Run for Mother Earth), while there will also be available booths for registration located within Ayala Malls Centrio.  

As the 2030 agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) draws near, RUN4ME aims to contribute to our commitment and duty to protect the environment and raise awareness on environmental issues. 

Every step you take in RUN4ME helps restore our forests and fight climate change—run for a healthier planet and stronger communities. ###