The Suantou Sugar Refinery in Chiayi, which has been in operation for over a century, was the starting point for the 2022 Taiwan Sugar Corporation Road race which commenced today (4th December). Ms. Chen Chia-Ling, a famous marathoner who is also Hsiao Pi's mother, took off with him and 1200 other runners to a swift start at the beginning of the marathon as they left behind footprints of love. To help spread love among the community in Chiayi, the Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) translated runners' donations into supplies and donated them to the Material Bank of the Social Affairs Bureau of Chiayi County.
At the crack of dawn, over a thousand enthusiastic runners already gathered at the Suantou Sugar Refinery eagerly awaiting starting pistol and hence the start of the road race. The TSC's charity road race for this year began at the Suantou Sugar Refinery which has over a century of history in the sugar industry. The runners ran along the Taiwan Sugar Railways, the slowest section of the track which led to the fastest section of the track, the High Speed Rail Station, before entering the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum. The runners not only had the opportunity to be the first to explore the extended Taiwan Sugar Railways route on foot, they were also treated to wonderful scenery along their running route which filled them with fresh air and experience the wonderfulness of Chiayi.
In addition to Taiwan Sugar Railways' stone engraving and charity market, the TSC has set up booths at the event venue to showcase foodstuffs which include organic vegetables and TSC Safety Pork. The event also featured the return of the ever-popular Taiwan Sugar Honduras Highland Farmers' coffee truck which received a new livery for the event and allowed the general public to sample and purchase and freshly brewed, high-quality coffee from Taiwans allies.
TSC noted how the TSC road race activity is guided through a charitable ethos as the public is encouraged to leave footprints of love by donating NT$50 worth of TSC supplies to each runner. Despite the pandemic shaking things up this year, over a thousand charitable runners responded with great enthusiasm. TSC, in keeping with its commitment to corporate social responsibility, will double down on its charitable contributions to help local disadvantaged families by raising the stake donated to the Chiayi County Social Affairs Bureau to NT$100,000.
The TSC is also extremely appreciative of the runners who have gone out of their way in love and sweat, as well as onsite supporters who passionately cheered for the runners. It is through the effort of all that the TSC charity road race was able to leave beautiful Chiayi with perfect footprints that captured the joy and loving charity showcased through the event.
Chang Mu-jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email: a63449@taisugar.com.tw