By Philip Stanfield

Kicking off at the very spot where Malaysia proclaimed independence in 1957, the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Marathon is a powerful and mesmerising showcase for modern life in South East Asia.

The gruelling 26 mile route winds through the capital’s diverse patchwork of historical landmarks, tourist-friendly thoroughfares and state-of-the-art corporate towers. It effortlessly captures the essence of a city reaching forward but remaining fully connected to its past.

Spurred on by hundreds of thousands of roaring supporters lining every inch of the sun-bleached streets of KL the 18,000 thousand runners in last month’s event battled exhaustion, stifling humidity and the distraction of a few well-known Asian celebrities as they raised more than 500,000 Malaysian Ringgits (RM) for a host of worthy causes. We, at SLA Mobile, were proud to be running with them.

Attracting the backing of a host of companies – including Liverpool Football Club’s new sponsor Standard Chartered – the marathon’s ‘Run for a Cause’ initiative was a great way for firms to get involved and raise funds for five major local charitable initiatives including the Children’s Environmental Heritage Foundation and the Malaysian Association for the Blind.

Led by our fearless internet guru, Richard Barnes Webb, SLA Mobile’s team of four amateur athletes not only raised an amazing RM40,000, approximately £8,000, for good causes but also managed to set the fastest time in the Corporate Challenge category.

The opportunity to run alongside Malaysia’s Miss World winner, Thanuja Tnanthan, may have provided just a little extra encouragement as the team paced through stifling temperatures, but of course the main reason we were taking part was to help make a difference and support the communities in which we work.

Similar to Belfast, it is generally recognised in KL that an organisation’s responsibilities should extend beyond business hours and Corporate Social Responsibility is a key part of the fabric of doing business here and something we take very seriously. Business isn’t just about making money; it’s also about giving something back to society wherever you are.

Social responsibility is in the very DNA of SLA Mobile and in fact was written into its mission statement when the company was founded in 2003.

As we’ve grown locally in Belfast and internationally in Dusseldorf, London and here in Kuala Lumpur, we’ve been proud to lend our support to helping worthy causes through special fund-raising events, donations and partnerships. Last year, for example, we took to the skies with a staff skydive in aid of Action MS in Northern Ireland.

Malaysia and KL have benefited enormously from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the last decade particularly in the high-tech sector with the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) providing encouragement and incentives for firms to locate on its shores. But it is reassuring to see that the majority of companies that are flourishing here, including SLA Mobile, are still actively supporting the communities which produce our pool of employees.

Like many South East Asian countries, poverty is a controversial issue in Malaysia and even in KL – which has benefited from strong economic growth – about a quarter of the six million plus population is estimated to live in squatter settlements. For local charities working to pull thousands of people out of poverty, international businesses and their zany fund-raising activities are vital.

As for our involvement, in spite of a few aching legs and throbbing feet we’re proud of the team’s achievements and the generous support given across the entire organisation towards their endeavours. The date for the 2011 KL Marathon, 26th June, has already been ring-fenced in the diaries. Maybe by then our feet will have cooled off just enough for our second race. But before that, it’s time for a little well deserved summer break in Puerto Banus and a chance to watch the world go by with the family.