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HONG KONG, 28 November 2010 –The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF organised the fifth UNICEF Chary Run today (28 November 2010) and successfully raised over HK$7.5 million for the ‘Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS’ global campaign. The number of total runners participated this year has topped 10,000 which is a new record of the event.

UNICEF Charity Run 2010 is jointly organised by Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association. It includes varies races, namely 3 km Fun Run, 10 km Run and Half Marathon, to encourage more children and their family members to join. The race course encompasses scenic spots in Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Inspiration Lake, costal area alongside Airport Express station and Sunny Bay. Mr WANG Zhi-min, Deputy Director,Liaison Office, theCentral People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary of HKSAR, Mr Johnny Ng and Mr Joseph Yu, Vice-Chairmen of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF and their fellow Council members officiatedthe ceremonies together with the HK Committee for UNICEF Ambassadors Miriam Yeung and Louis Koo. “In the past four years, more than 22,000 participants joined UNICEF Charity Run and raised nearly HK$20 million to support ‘Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS’ campaign and the rebuilding work for Sichuan earthquake. It also shows a strong will of Hong Kong people to give a helping hand to people affected by HIV/AIDS around the world.” Mr John Tsang said. Many Hong Kong top runners, including Chan Kit Yee, Leung Ying Suet, Yiu Kit Ching, Chan Ka Ho, Gi Ka Man, and Lai Hok Yan rendered their support for UNICEF by their continual participation in the Charity Run. Elite runners around the world such as Thomas Kiprotich from Kenya, Men’s Overall Champion in the 2009 race, also competed in today’s Half Marathon to defend his championship this year.

In the past thirty years, the global HIV/AIDS epidemic has been putting countless children’s lives in misery. Without medical intervention, at least half of the infected babies will die before their second birthday. The funds raised in the UNICEF Charity Run will be used to support the ‘Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS’ global campaign, preventing the mother to child transmission of HIV and reducing the mortality of child.  “The number of participants of this year’s Charity Run has topped ten thousand, which is another new record and four times of that of the first Charity Run. On behalf of UNICEF, I thank all for your tremendous support”, said Ms Irene Chan, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Committee.