SEEING how it runs in line with what it stands for as a brand, which is to pursue one’s passions and celebrating life without hesitation, FWD Life Philippines has thrown its support to the North Pole Marathon 2018 which is happening in April.
Set for April 9, the event dubbed the “world’s coolest marathon” will have the FWD Group as title sponsor and will see it send participants to take on the extreme challenges of the race and embrace the experience of a lifetime that it presents.
In conjunction with it, the local wing of the life insurance company launched on Feb. 20 the “Blaze a Trail in the Arctic” campaign to show its support for the marathon and what it generally embodies of overcoming challenges and pursuing one’s passion.
FWD Life Philippines also sees it as a good platform to share the value of financial literacy to encourage people to strike a balance between living life to the fullest but at the same time being ready as well.
“As a brand that continues to change the way people feel about insurance, FWD saw the North Pole Marathon as a unique platform to empower people to overcome extreme challenges, to pursue their aspirations without worries, and to ignite their passion for life-enriching experiences,” said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes in a statement, speaking of the motor that has them rallying behind the North Pole marathon.
“With ‘Blaze a Trail in the Arctic’ as our Philippine campaign promoting the marathon, we aim to encourage Filipinos to live life to the fullest, because we will always have their back!” he added.
In the marathon, which is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “Northernmost Marathon on Earth,” participants will traverse the 42-kilometer path with an average temperature of -30 degrees centigrade.
One of those competing in the marathon is Filipino multi-sport athlete Louie Sangalang, one of 10 runners from six countries across Asia who FWD is sponsoring.
A cancer survivor, FWD Life Philippines said Mr. Sangalang’s life journey made him a “perfect choice” to represent the Philippines.
“Louie’s resilience in overcoming life’s challenges is one trait that resonates with Filipinos and this made him the perfect choice to represent the Philippines in the marathon,” said Mr. Grimes.
“His inspiring story and his passion for sports, which he uses to inspire Filipinos to live an active lifestyle, also best represent what FWD stands for: pursuing one’s passions and celebrating life without hesitation. As such, FWD will be providing Louie with insurance protection so that he can embrace the North Pole Marathon challenge worry-free,” he added.
For Mr. Sangalang, a triathlete and mixed martial arts champion at the Universal Reality Combat Championship, the North Pole marathon is a good opportunity for him to share his story and, in turn, inspire other people to rise above the hardships thrown their way whatever those may be.
“I want to inspire my fellow Filipinos with my story. This is why I’m running. I want them to feel empowered, that despite the many challenges that life throws, you can come back better and stronger with the right attitude,” said Mr. Sangalang, 40, who was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix when he was 21 but has been in remission since 2000.
“I’m excited for the North Pole Marathon. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I’m happy to represent the country. And, yes, I consider this as one of the toughest battles in my life but after all I have gone through I believe I can overcome this as well,” added Mr. Sangalang.
To help Mr. Sangalang prepare for the task at hand, FWD Life Philippines has assembled a team of coaches to help him prepare for the different facets of the marathon.
Part of the team are Ani De Leon-Brown and coach Ige Lopez for Louie’s physical preparedness; mountain climber Romi Garduce, who will share his insights on surviving extreme weather conditions; Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and son Benjamin, who will provide emotional support and motivation; and sports enthusiast and funny man Sam YG, who will help keep the rigorous — sometimes stressful — training, lighthearted and fun.
FWD Group spans Hong Kong and Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, and employee benefits across a number of its markets.
For more information on the marathon and the FWD’s campaign, log on to npmarathon.fwd.com.ph. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
