The first female president of the PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC), Mrs. Emma Waiwai, has successfully led the annual Trukai Fun Run in Port Moresby, just a week into her new role. Mrs. Waiwai, a veteran sports administrator and president of the Basketball Federation of PNG, was historically elected by PNGOC on June 29th for a four-year term, taking over from Sir John Dawanicura, who served as PNGOC president for the past 12 years. The Fun Run event, sponsored by Trukai Industries and organized by PNGOC, brought together communities, organizations, schools, and individuals in a celebration of fitness, unity, and national pride across Port Moresby, Lae, Kokopo, among the 10 locations nationwide. Held today, Sunday July 7th, under the theme "Our Steps, Their Dreams," the event aimed to raise crucial funds for Team PNG's Olympic preparation and participation efforts. In Port Moresby, the beautiful weather saw a huge turnout of participants of all ages, donning colorful Trukai Fun Run t-shirts and eager to hit the 5km route. The atmosphere was electric with excitement and camaraderie, as the route wound through downtown Port Moresby, offering stunning views of various city landmarks. Among the notable attendees were the French Ambassador Guillaume Lemoine, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, and Mr. Micah James, CEO of the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation. The PNG Olympic Committee, in a social media post, expressed gratitude for their presence and support of Team PNG at the 2024 Trukai Fun Run. In Kokopo, the route started on the Kokopo-Rabaul road, continuing through the Kokopo Golf course and ending back at the starting point. The event was a nationwide success, with funds raised through the sale of K20 Trukai Fun Run T-Shirts, contributing directly to Team PNG's efforts to compete in the Paris Olympics from July 26th to August 11th. Earlier in the week Desmond Kaviagu, PNGOC’s Secretary General, expressed deep gratitude for Trukai Industries Limited’s enduring support. "We are immensely thankful to Trukai Industries Limited for their steadfast support, which has been instrumental in empowering our athletes to strive for excellence and represent Papua New Guinea on the global stage." Since 2000, Trukai Industries Limited has been the proud sponsor of the Trukai Fun Run, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to promoting sports, health, fitness, and national pride. CEO of Trukai Industries Alan Preston, also this week, highlighted the efforts of the organizing committee and host partners. "The Fun Run organizing committee and host partners in each of the participating locations have done a tremendous job to sell the T-shirts and we are anticipating 40,000 people to attend this event." The Trukai Fun Run was supported by sponsors including IBS University, Air Niugini, Theodist, Coral Sea Hotels, Enzo’s Pizza, Trophy Haus, the National, CPL Group, and Vodafone. Last month’s t-shirt auctions in Port Moresby and Lae were a remarkable success, raising K277,500 through the sale of 11,100 t-shirts generously donated by Trukai. Mrs. Waiwai's leadership in the Trukai Fun Run marks a positive start to her tenure as PNGOC President, uniting the nation in a shared goal of supporting Team PNG and fostering a culture of health and fitness.