The New Life Welfare Foundation, which is led by Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, hosted the 1st New Life Family Walkathon. It was to cheer for a bright tomorrow of children suffering from heart disease by conveying the hope of a new life to them. On June 6, 2002, the first New Life Family Walkathon was held in Namsan, Seoul, Korea, being co-hosted by the New Life Welfare Foundation and the Korea Children’s Protection Foundation. In particular, this event was also to wish for the success of the Korea-Japan World Cup 2002. More than 12,000 Foundation members participated in the event, including Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah.
Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah Begins the Life-Saving Walkathon
Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and the Foundation members have been practicing love for neighbors through various volunteer services with one mind in order to deliver a new life to the children struggling with disease. On July 6 when the whole nation was excited about the World Cup 2002, Baekbeom Plaza in Namsan was crowded with people wearing yellow shirts. They were the members from the New Life Welfare Foundation, who came to assist children with heart disease, along with the wishes for a successful World Cup.
Many of the members came with their families. They hoped that the walkathon would be an opportunity for their children to realize the value of life and family love. The donations collected through the walkathon were delivered to five children with congenital heart disease.
The Walkathon Full of Joy
With Chairwoman Zahng Gil-ja’s declaration to start the walkathon, all the members, both children and adults, started walking with a bright smile. Dads walked with their children on their shoulders, and moms walked, tightly holding their children’s hand and talking together. The walking course was from the National Theater to Baekbeom Plaza. A samulnori group (traditional Korean percussion music) cheered the participants on in the middle of the course, which added joy to the walking.
At the plaza where the walkathon finished, KBS children’s song contest, “Into the World of Children’s Song,” began to unfold. The members enjoyed watching the performance of the children who showed off their talents. After all the performances were over, Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah presented awards to the children who were selected as winners.
The members expressed how they felt, saying, “I persuaded my family to come here, hearing that our donations will be used to save children from heart disease,” “I’m so happy to be here.” “It’s a small act of sincerity but I was able to do some good.”
Chairwoman of the New Life Welfare Foundation Zahng Gil-jah Takes the Lead in Children’s Well-Being
“A family is a refuge for a life worn out, where all conflicts disappear and love sprouts, a place where big person becomes smaller and small person becomes bigger.”Herbert George Wells, an English writer
Family is a warm nest full of love, and children who are taken care of within its fence can go energetically toward a brighter tomorrow. At a time when the crimes against children are on the rise and children who are suffering from financial difficulties, diseases, and dismantled families are increasing, the New Life Welfare Foundation awakens society to the importance of family, while protecting children’s rights and promoting children’s well-being with the love of a mother.
The New Life Family Walkathon, which took its first step this year, will be held annually to help children with heart disease and incurable diseases, child-headed families, and children in single parent families so that they may grow up healthy. The New Life Welfare Foundation’s effort to help unfortunate neighbors and create a happy world for everyone, is attracting attention.