McDonald’s Stripes Run takes big strides towards PH Literacy

It was a sea of stripes at the Mall of Asia Grounds in the wee hours of the morning last Dec. 10 as over 9,230 runners all geared up to join one of the biggest fun runs of the year. The McDonald’s Stripes Run gathered serious road athletes, casual runners, families, and four-legged furbabies to run in seven categories: 1K Fur Stripes, 1K Kiddie Stripes, 3K Stripes, 3K Family Stripes, 5K Stripes, 5K Squad Stripes and 10K Stripes.

Each registered participant received McDonald’s breakfast meals to fuel their run, along with cool merch such as running shirts and socks. There were also side activities onsite, including games and an energizing Zumba session.

The McDonald’s Stripes Run was launched 12 years ago to serve as a fun bonding activity for friends and families. “Every year, we strive for it to be bigger and better. Last year, we opened a category for kids, this year, we also considered not just the traditional families but also the furparents. We opened a category for pets to run their own marathon,” says Oliver Rabatan, McDonald’s Philippines Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for Marketing.

Rabatan says, “parents look forward to the Stripes Run because it gives them an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. With children often on their gadgets these days, having this kind of event gives them a new experience. It is a good way for families to bond in a different way.”

Reading readiness

The participants who hit the road also came with a mission to help more kids hit the books. The McDonald’s Stripes Run supports the Run To Read advocacy of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, with part of the registration proceeds to be donated to reading programs for around 13 million Grades 1 and 2 students in around 11,000 partner public schools nationwide.

During the event, Rabatan handed over a check for P1 Million that was raised by the Stripes Run to the charity. “We are committed to children literacy. Aside from this program we have other programs. During the pandemic we launched the McDonald’s Classroom. It is a program for students who don’t have internet connection and don’t have a conducive study space. Just recently we donated refurbished chairs and tables to some public schools. We also have the annual Brigada Eskwela where each of our restaurants go to the public schools in their community and do cleanups and provide them with kits. The advocacy of McDonald’s is really children and education.”

Celebrity couple Judy Ann and Ryan Agoncillo likewise brought their daughter Luna to the Stripes Run and they participated in a storytelling session, much to the delight of the audience.

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