EJ Obiena Auctions Asiad, SEA Games Gear in Fundraising to Build Pole Vault Training Pits
Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena auctions Asian Games and SEA Games gear in fundraising to build pole vault training pits.
Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, the world’s second-ranked pole vaulter, has initiated a fundraising campaign titled “Katapulting an Athlete’s Dream” with the goal of establishing pole vault training facilities in various regions throughout the country. Obiena’s objective is to contribute to both the nation and the sport that has made him an international figure.
In collaboration with the marketing technology agency Katapult Digital, the Asian Games gold medalist plans to auction off his gear from the 2023 Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games, including custom-made Puma spikes from the SEA Games and his Puma suit from the World Championships. The proceeds from these auctions will support the “Katapulting an Athlete’s Dream” initiative.
“I believe the Filipinos can win at a global level but we can’t do this alone. The Philippine pole vaulting community holds much potential. All stakeholders and supporters need to band together to maximize the possibilities,” the 27-year-old Obiena said.
He further expressed, “I am doing this for the country,” emphasizing his commitment to identifying and assisting promising student-athletes and communities.
In addition to the auctions, Obiena’s website (https://ejobiena.katapultdigital.com) will feature a donation drive, enabling fans and supporters to participate in the fundraising campaign. The initiative will select deserving schools and students from various locations in the Philippines as beneficiaries for the construction of training pits and pole vaulting programs.
Francis Uy, the CEO of Katapult Digital, which has offices in the Philippines, Singapore, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, commended Obiena, stating, “EJ Obiena inspires and reminds us that the Philippines truly possesses world-class talent.”
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