Charity for Nancy gets Royal support

HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah yesterday evening joined thousands in a charity cycle and run for ex-national athlete Nancy Tea Ai Seng which began at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

HRH, who was accompanied by HRH Prince 'Abdul Muntaqim, showed her support by wearing the iconic yellow "Charity for Nancy" shirt along with the rest of the participants, and even joined in the warm-up exercise before the 5.5-kilometre fun run began.

Just before approaching the start line of the race, The Brunei Times spoke to Her Royal Highness, who said joining the charity run was a way of showing support to Nancy after what she had done for the country.

"(I took part in this) because she (Nancy) helped Brunei get a name technically with the medals she won, so I think it is about time Bruneians should also support her, and this charity cycle and run is quite a nice way (of doing so)," Her Royal Highness said.

"Bruneians are now getting more healthy (such as doing running). So this is a combination of getting healthy and helping at the same time. So this is a good cause both ways."

Her Royal Highness said the turnout of thousands of runners and cyclists showed pride and that Bruneians were caring. "They might not know her personally, but she (Nancy) is a Bruneian and she has helped us so it is nice to help a fellow Bruneian." Also present to take part in the run was Pengiran Seti Aminah Pengiran Othman.

Nancy, who had previously won two bronze medals for Brunei in the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, suffered an accident last year that affected her spine. The former national athlete, who was present at the stadium, is currently wheelchair bound, and is undergoing rehabilitation at the Jerudong Park Medical Centre. The Brunei Times

See also A8