February 13, 2026
Coin-can-inspired medal marks Tzu Chi Charity Run 2025
By Thania Florendo
The final stretch of the Tzu Chi Charity Run 2025 tested every runner as legs started to ache and lungs burned. Yet as the finish line came into view, the medal that awaited participants promised more than recognition; it promised meaning.
Smiles of relief and celebration broke out as runners received their hard-earned medals. Unlike any medal the runners had seen, it invited closer inspection. It was shaped and patterned after Tzu Chi’s humble bamboo bank that reflected the foundation’s earliest practice of saving small amounts daily to help those in need.
A humble beginning
The coin bank dates back to Tzu Chi’s founding in Taiwan. When resources were scarce, Tzu Chi founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen asked 30 housewives to save 50 NT cents—roughly one US cent—from their daily grocery money and drop it into a bamboo bank. Pooled together, the savings helped families in need.
What started as a humble daily habit spread, becoming a global practice. Today, volunteers around the world continue it at home. Master Cheng Yen often reminds followers: Charity is not measured by the amount given, but by the sincerity of intention. One small act a day can grow into lasting change.
The meaning behind the medal
This year’s charity run embraced that very message. According to Dr. Anton Mari Lim, part of the planning committee, the very message of the run, “One Good Deed a Day,” reflects the same spirit behind the bamboo bank practice.
“We would like to encourage everyone, even after the run, to continue doing one good deed a day, so that society will be at peace and will be free from disaster,” he shared.
The medal itself became part of the storytelling. Instead of a purely decorative design, it served as a reminder of the foundation’s origins—a symbol linking present-day runners to decades of compassionate action.
A medal worth more than metal
After the race, runners posed with their medals. The keepsake meant more than the distance covered, but it served as a reminder to practice daily kindness.
In the end, the Tzu Chi Charity Run 2025 was more than kilometers conquered. For runners, it was a celebration of discipline and a well-earned reward; for volunteers, the fulfillment of a mission brought to life; and for the scholars, a promise of brighter days ahead—all carried forward by the belief that one good deed, practiced every day, can travel farther than any finish line.
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The bamboo coin bank and its character mascot stand on display at the Race Village of Bridgetowne Destination Estate in Pasig, highlighting the event’s message.
Booming drumbeats welcomed runners assembling at the starting line.
Medals were neatly arranged at the finish line, ready to be awarded to participants.
The medal held special significance for the run, featuring a coin-can design that symbolized Tzu Chi’s spirit of small, consistent giving.
Coin cans and other charity run merchandise were sold at the scholars’ booth during the event.
Runners powered along the route, each stride driven by the goal of claiming that medal.
Runners powered along the route, each stride driven by the goal of claiming that medal.
Tzu Chi scholars waited eagerly to award the medals to each finisher.
Tzu Chi scholars waited eagerly to award the medals to each finisher.
A triumphant finish at the end of the race.
Tzu Chi Foundation staff member Evangeline Balwit, 55, proudly wears her medal after completing the 3K run.
Tzu Chi staff runners gathered for a photo, proudly backing the foundation’s efforts.
With the theme of the charity run behind them, runners showcased the impact of their good deed for the cause.