“Boss, why you didn’t join the charity run?”
That one question from my colleague caught me off guard.

She asked while handing over an audit file for review on a hectic Tuesday morning.

I smiled.
Told her the truth.
Calf injury. Uric acid flare-up. Three weeks and counting. Still recovering.

But deep inside… I felt something else.
Pride. Quiet, overflowing pride.

Because while I couldn’t run this time, my team showed up. In full force.

Not Just Another Run

The event was VegRun《全民復蔬｜公益路跑》, organised by Fo Guang Shan 新马寺 — a movement bigger than just fitness.

A run to promote sustainability,
A run to encourage a plant-based lifestyle,
A run to protect the planet we live on.

We joined last year too.
And like every year, I tried to rally my team again under KTP’s company sponsorship.

The tough timing

This year wasn’t smooth.
Super peak period. Audit deadlines. Tax pressure building like a volcano.

Some managers gave me that polite-but-firm look:
“Boss… this time really peak. Can postpone or not?”

I didn’t push.

I invited.

“Bring your kids. Let them experience a crowd of 5,000 running for a cause.
Let them see what community and compassion look like in real life.”

Truth be told — most of them had never joined any kind of run before.

Still, I quietly signed up for the 11KM event.

What they didn’t know?
I had also signed up for MMC Half Marathon 21KM on Saturday
and the Kulai Epic 100KM MTB race on Sunday.

Crazy? Maybe.
But I believe in leading by doing.

The best surprise … In the end

Managers turned up with their kids.
Colleagues who never ran before showed up with big smiles and nervous laughter.
Our team stood tall in a sea of green shirts, capturing moments I’ll remember for a long time.

Office spirit, outside the office.
That’s what real culture looks like.

Next goal?

Maybe after this peak season, it’s time to train them for a 21KM half marathon.
Why not dream a little further, together?

I didn’t run this time.
But my heart did. With every step they took.

Grateful. Proud. Blessed.