TELUS International Philippines’ virtual run raises funds, encourages employee fitness

Upholding its mission to give back to the community while promoting health and wellness within the company, TELUS International Philippines launched its TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG) Virtual Run 2021 through which team members raised financial support for distance learners who badly need help while engaging safely in exercise and friendly competition.

The virtual event, which began on May 1 and ran until May 31, was held in support of World Vision’s Abutin Na10 Campaign, a fundraising drive that benefits distance learning initiatives for struggling students through the Department of Education’s study continuity plan.0

Funds raised from the effort will also be used to reproduce self-learning materials and support DepEd’s Brigada Pagbasa.

Through the run’s 2,343 registered volunteers, TELUS International Philippines team has already raised an initial P740,250 for World Vision which will provide printed modules for 7,000 public school students from remote areas across the country.

On top of the funds raised through its team members, the company has pledged to donate P100,000 on behalf of the top three site winners and to sponsor students by donating an additional P100 for every team member who finishes his/her distance category.

“Empowering our team members to give back to the community has always been a part of our company culture. This year, technology is helping us inspire our team members to stay active as well while we achieve our corporate social responsibility advocacies. It’s pretty amazing how our team members can join a run safely and virtually from their homes while helping support the education of the youth who need it the most,” said Phoebe Carrera, TELUS International Philippines Corporate Social Responsibility Manager.

Unlike traditional fun runs in the past where participants were tasked to complete a total distance within a given time period, the TDOG Virtual Run 2021 was designed to work within the parameters of the current quarantine situation.

With safety in mind, runners had the entire month of May to complete their chosen distance at their own time, pace, and in their own space. To replicate the marathon experience, each participating employee received a runner’s singlet and virtual race bib as well as a finisher’s shirt upon completion.

Employees who registered for the TDOG Virtual Run 2021 selected from four distance categories: 10 KM, 20 KM, 40 KM, and 60 KM. Runners are tracking their runs throughout the month using a fitness gadget or a mobile fitness app. Each participant is asked to log in the date, distance covered, and duration of each run along with a screenshot from the gadget or app as proof and submit these through an online form supplied by TELUS International Philippines.

TIP team member Jayge William Salvan, who participated and completed his own 60 KM run, said: “I look forward to the physical and mental health benefits that walking and running provide me, especially now that we are still experiencing this stressful pandemic. The TELUS Days of Giving Virtual Run 2021 is truly helping ease my depression and increase my stamina.”

For Operations Director Delon Pinheiro, the virtual run kept him motivated and helped him stay on track.

“I love being part of a company that shares my values, and the TDOG run was for a good cause to help school children and I wanted to participate and do my bit for them, even if it is from far away. The run was also physically and mentally rewarding. I lost about 4 kg of weight over the month, experienced increased stamina to run longer, and had less stress after my runs as I used the time to think of solutions to any issues that I am facing at the time,” he said.

Individual winners are awarded based on the shortest accumulated time to complete their chosen distance. To add a friendly competition as in any sport, all seven TELUS International Philippines sites, including their recently opened one in Iloilo City, are also competing with each other based on total distance covered by their team members.

The TDOG Virtual Run 2021 is part of TELUS International Philippines’ employee-focused programs developed to provide avenues for self-improvement, peer-engagement, corporate social responsibility, and continuous learning.