Keluarga bahagia Daphne Iking. (Pic: Instagram @daphneiking)
Sabtu lalu berlangsung Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2018 (SCKLM2018). Ramai juga di kalangan artis dan selebriti yang turut melibatkan diri. Di antaranya adalah Daphne Iking.
Bukan sekadar menyertai larian marathon, tetapi Daphne ada beberapa sebab. Antaranya adalah sebagai memperingati pemergian ayahnya, selain mengutip dana untuk Hospis Malaysia dan juga sebagai tanda untuk beliau menyertai sekurang-kurangnya separuh marathon di usia 40an.
Cuba untuk menterjemahkan apa yang ditulis beliau ke dalam Bahasa Malaysia, banyak emosi yang hilang dan makna yang tidak kesampaian. Supaya semua maksud itu sampai, kami biarkan sahaja apa yang ditulis oleh Daphne di dalam bahasa Inggeris. Pasti semua faham kerana bahasanya yang mudah.
Dalam entri Instagram yang disertakan gambar ayahnya, Daphne menulis.
"Today I run in memory of you Dad. Thank you to everyone who donated to my SCKLM Run for a Reason in support of Hospis Malaysia.
Daddy was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and we were sad that he had to wait awhile for Palliative Care to be granted as there was no space till his last few days on earth."
Kemudian di dalam entri berikutnya beserta gambar beliau bersama medal penamat larian, Daphne menyambung kisahnya.
"I felt so many emotions as I ran my first 21kms. I finally understand why my firends are addicted to it - there's just no actual words to describe the whole feeling but let me tell you, the atmosphere was electrifying!
Azmi (Suami Daphne) said he will never pay to run - but because I wanted to complete at least a half marathon this year to celebrate my 40s, I ran for a reason and paid tribute to my late Dad to raise funds for #HospisMalaysia and went ahead without my partner in crime.
I don't know why I ended up crying macam urang tumingan after the 19km mark. Probably because I didn't think I was going to pull it off knowing I hadn't train hard enough. I thought I'd pace myself and walk my way tru. But I suppose it was the adrenaline rush having visions of Dad smiling that got to me and just kept me running all the way (except for the one toilet break that wasn't as bad as I imagined it to be!)
My final 1km I had hingus and tears coming out. so I declined a selfie, sorry Ya? Bukan sebab sombong, but I felt and looked like a slimey strawberry tadi."
Dalam entri berikutnya, Daphne menulis apa yang dilihat sepanjang larian beliau dan ini sebahagian daripadanya.
Running alone with just spotify to accompany me, I was able to see parts of KL you would only notice on foot. I watched strangers help each other when they suffered cramps or fatigue, I watched the men solat berjemaah on the sidewalk as the sound of Azan was heard from afar. I stopped and bowed my head, facing the direction of the Kaabah an joined them from behind to give a quick prayer of thanks.
I almost didn't make it for the marathon due to health reasons, but praise God, I pulled through, so I was grateful for the opportunity to run and to bear witness to the thousands running together in this 10th year Marathon extravaganza.
I also saw how cups and banana peels and wet sponges were thrown on the road. There was ample bins and I feel marathoners can do better than that. I know you are in the zone, but come on! Or perhaps this is my first long distance run, and this is a norm? I don't like this 'norm' if so.
Thank you Allah for granting me Your blessing to go ahead with the run and Azmi for sending me to the station."
Tahniah Daphne, dan terima kasih kerana berkongsi sedikit cerita dan membuka ruang buat artis dan selebriti mengetahui cara untuk memberi sumbangan dalam bentuk yang berbeza. Semoga lebih ramai lagi artis dan selebriti faham bahawa kerja amal bukan terhenti apabila menyanyi di majlis amal atau hadir beramah mesra di majlis anak-anak yatim.
Sumber "I Did It Dad" - Daphne Iking