Iglesia Ni Cristo holds charity walk for Yolanda victims in Rome

Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Rome spearheaded a fund-raising walk over the weekend to benefit the scores of victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

At least 818 people joined the 1.5-kilometer walkathon from the Colosseo to the Circo Massimoheld last February 15, according to a news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The number of participants was determined through the wristbands they dropped off at the finish line, the DFA said. Wednesday.

The money raised through the €25 registration fee paid by each participant will be used—through Iglesia Ni Cristo’s socio-civic arm— for victims who lost their houses and livelihood due to Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated towns and cities in the Visayas on November 8.

Over 6,000 people died in the aftermath of the super typhoon, with thousands more rendered homeless.

Vice Consul Kristine Margret Malang from the Philippine Embassy in Rome, as well as other Filipinos in Rome who are non-Iglesia Ni Cristo members, also joined the walkathon for charity.

Other simultaneous charity walks by the Iglesia Ni Cristo were also held in 85 areas in the Philippines and 55 cities overseas.   

The Iglesia Ni Cristo made it into the Guinness World Records for the biggest number of participants of a walkathon in multiple sites. — KBK, GMA News