KUCHING: A running initiative is gaining momentum among youth in the city, offering more than just a way to stay fit.
For many, it’s not just about the running but about feeling connected, supported, and attaining a renewed sense of purpose.
Run Until Something Happens (RUSH), a youth-led running group that began among a close-knit circle of friends, is now steadily expanding as more youths join their weekly and sometimes daily runs across the city.
They aim to activate public spaces and empower young people through fitness, connection and community spirit.
One of the individuals supporting and facilitating the effort is Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Councillor, Mohd Syafiq, 28.

“Many youths today feel disconnected from society, from themselves, and from opportunities,” he said.
“RUSH isn’t just about physical activity, it is a space where they can run, reflect, and reconnect.”
The RUSH community organises weekly runs, fitness challenges, and community-based projects, including outreach efforts like the Qurban 5K Run on Saturday night, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha.
“The streets belong to the people, especially our youth,” said Syafiq.
“By activating public spaces through organised runs, we are also reclaiming them from negative influences like loitering and vandalism.”
Members of RUSH see this initiative as a platform to bridge the gap between local councils and young citizens.
It offers youth a chance to engage with issues such as park maintenance, pedestrian safety, and sustainable city planning.
“We want our youth to not only use the city, but shape it,” he said.
With weekly runs held in accessible public areas, they hope to offer an alternative to sedentary lifestyles and social isolation.
RUSH currently operates on personal funds from Syafiq and support from close allies, without formal sponsorship to date.
Despite financial constraints, the initiative has received encouragement from the MBKS leadership, including the Mayor, for its youth-led, people-first approach.
According to Syafiq, it is all about starting small but thinking big.
For him, change does not always need massive funding to begin with.
Sometimes, all it takes is a committed group and a shared vision to make it a success.
With RUSH continuing to grow organically, the team is actively seeking support from corporate sponsors, health advocates and educational institutions to help expand its reach and sustain long-term community impact.
The RUSH running group is proof that when young people come together, they can make fitness and friendship go hand in hand.
What started as casual jogs among friends has quickly turned into a growing movement where more youths join in every week.
