Blaze a Trail at the North Pole!
Travelling to the North Pole remains to be a dream and checking it in my bucket list might not happen anytime soon. Nonetheless, we’re really excited for cancer-survivor Louie Sangalang as he will experience the coolest adventure in the world through the upcoming North Pole marathon as supported by FWD Life Philippines, the country’s fastest-growing insurer.
Winter Is Coming!
We personally met him last week in the launch of “Blaze a Trail in the Arctic” campaign organized by FWD Philippines held at the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. FWD’s Rien Hermans and Roche Vandenberghe led the team.
In conjunction with the FWD North Pole Marathon 2018 happening on April 9, 2018, FWD will sponsor ten (10) runners from six (6) countries across Asia who will showcase their passion and determination to take on extreme challenges and embrace this experience of a lifetime, traversing the 42-kilometer path with an average temperature of -30 degrees centigrade.
The North Pole Marathon is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “Northernmost Marathon on Earth”.
“As a brand that continues to change the way people feel about insurance, FWD saw the North Pole Marathon as a unique platform to empower people to overcome extreme challenges, to pursue their aspirations without worries, and to ignite their passion for life-enriching experiences. With Blaze a Trail in the Arctic as our Philippine campaign promoting the marathon, we aim to encourage Filipinos to live life to the fullest, because we will always have their back!”, said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes.
Cancer-Survivor Blazes a Trail in the Arctic
FWD Philippines will be represented by Louie Sangalang, a multi-sport athlete who engages in mixed-martial arts, boxing, and triathlons. A proud cancer survivor, Louie was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix when he was 21. But instead of giving up, Louie—who has been in remission since 2000—turned to sports and was able to bounce back successfully.
“I want to inspire my fellow Filipinos with my story. This is why I’m running. I want them to feel empowered, that despite the many challenges that life throws, you can come back better and stronger with the right attitude,” said Sangalang, who will be joining other runners from all over the world, including representatives from other countries where FWD operates: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan.
To help Sangalang, FWD Philippines formed a North Pole Marathon squad who will support his mental, physical, and emotional preparations. Included in the squad are triathlon icon Ani De Leon- Brown, who will collaborate with his personal trainer and coach Ige Lopez for Louie’s physical preparedness; mountain climber Romi Garduce, who will share his insights on surviving extreme weather conditions; Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and son Benjamin, who will provide emotional support and motivation; and sports enthusiast and funny man Sam YG, who will help keep the rigorous— sometimes stressful—training, lighthearted and fun(ny).
“Louie’s resilience in overcoming life’s challenges is one trait that resonates with Filipinos and this made him the perfect choice to represent the Philippines in the marathon,” shared Grimes. “His inspiring story and his passion for sports, which he uses to inspire Filipinos to live an active lifestyle, also best represent what FWD stands for: pursuing one’s passions and celebrating life without hesitation. As such, FWD will be providing Louie with insurance protection so that he can embrace the North Pole Marathon challenge worry-free.”
Get Set for Health
In this light, it is worth mentioning that FWD Life Philippines have insurance that offers the following features and benefits;
- Get financially protected up to 3x for unrelated critical illness
- Make your first claim, you’ll still get covered. No further premiums needed
- Get all your money back if you don’t get critically ill at age 75
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