HONG KONG, 27 November 2011 – The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (HKCU) held the sixth UNICEF Charity Run today at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort with the full support from 13,000 runners. The Charity Run this year once again supports the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ global campaign, hits a record high of over HK$8.5 million raised to purchase more than 900,000 ‘HIV Test Kits’, which enable HIV-positive mothers-to-be to know about their situations at an early stage, promptly receive essential treatment and care so as to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies.
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| The running event attracted people from all ages. All runners, including the young runners, were energetic and strived for their best results. |
Thomas Kiprotich and Fan Sui Ping won the Half Marathon Overall Championship. |
UNICEF Charity Run 2011 is co-organised by HKCU and Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association. The races include 3km Fun Run, 10km Run and Half Marathon, encompassing scenic spots including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Inspiration Lake, costal area alongside Airport Express station and Sunny Bay. The number of runners this year topped 13,000 with participants from children to 80 years old elderly, famous Hong Kong runners Chan Ka Ho, Leung Ying Suet, Gi Ka Man and Yiu Kit Ching, creating a new record of the event. What’s more, Samuel Ajmal together with his friend Fung Ying Ki, both riding on wheel chairs, as well as 17 runners composed of aurally impaired and visually impaired runners from Hong Kong Association of the Deaf, overcame physical challenges and ran to support the work of UNICEF to fight against HIV/AIDS. The 3km Fun Run has also attracted many supporters, including HKCU Ambassador and the Hong Kong best cyclist Mr Wong Kam-po, youngsters aged from 11 to 15 and family runners to come and run for children. After completing all the races of the day, it was announced that runner Thomas Kiprotich won the Men’s Half Marathon Overall Championship (01’10’16), while runner Fan Sui Ping won the Women’s Half Marathon Overall Championship (01’24’47). Men’s and Women’s 10km Overall Champion were Gi Ka Man (00’32’27) and Yiu Kit Ching (00’36’23) respectively.
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| Samuel Ajmal riding on the wheel chair joined the Half Marathon for the third year, and successfully completed the run together with his friend Fung Ying Ki. |
‘Mung Lung Team’ from the Hong Kong Association of the Deafovercame physical challenges and ran to support the prevention campaign against HIV/AIDS. |
Gi Ka Man
Men’s 10km Overall Champion |
Yiu Kit Ching
Women’s 10km Overall Champion |
The event today has raised over HK$8.5 million entirely for the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ global campaign, contributing to the purchase of more than 900,000 ‘HIV Test Kits’. Globally there are 33.3 million people living with HIV. It is estimated that more than 1,000 babies continue to be born with HIV every day, implying that every 1.4 minute an infant is infected by the virus. Many of them destined to die before age two if not diagnosed and treated. With ‘HIV Test Kits’, blood tests for mothers-to-be can be conducted in a simple setting without laboratory and the result of HIV testing will be obtained as rapid as 20 to 40 minutes. If the mother is tested HIV-positive, UNICEF will provide her with care and treatment, so as to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
To support this meaningful event, Mr Raymond Tam, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, the Government of the HKSAR, Ms Han Shuxia, Director General of Youth Department, Liaison Office, the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of HKCU and Council Members of HKCU, together with HKCU Ambassador Mr Wong Kam-po and UNICEF Charity Run Ambassadors Mr Wilfred Lau, Mr Gi Ka Man and Ms Yiu Kit Ching were present to officiate the ceremony.
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Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of HKCU welcomed the mother-baby pair from Myanmar, beneficiaries of the global campaign ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’, and said, “They represent the solid result of UNICEF’s efforts. We are extremely grateful for their coming a long way to Hong Kong specially to cheer for our runners and show their support to UNICEF’s global campaign on HIV/AIDS.” She added, “We hope to receive continuous support from the general public, uniting with us to stride towards the ‘AIDS-free generation’, achieving ‘Zero new HIV infections’, ‘Zero discrimination’ and ‘Zero AIDS-related deaths’.”
“I am not a long run expert though!” Mr Raymond Tam still supported UNICEF to hold the Charity Run, providing Hong Kong people with an opportunity to support the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ global campaign through participating in sports activities. “Mother-to-child transmission of HIV mainly occurs in developing regions far away from Hong Kong, but it never stops Hong Kong people from supporting this meaningful global campaign.” He added, “I would like to thank every runner, participant and donor of the event. The most important thing is not to win for the races, but to take action and strive for the well-being of children.”
HKCU Ambassador Mr Wong Kam-po attended the UNICEF Charity Run for the first time since his appointment in July and completed the 3 km Fun Run (00’22’46). He said, “Today’s run is especially significant with dual goals, one at finishing line, and another at combating against AIDS. We should keep taking our steps forward, straining for the finishing line. I also very much hope that young people in Hong Kong can take this opportunity to realise their rights to participation, spreading the message to the public on their care and concerns to people living with HIV/AIDS.”
The Charity Run this year was further lit up by new elements. Members from the UNICEF Young Envoys Club held a charity sale of blood-pack shaped hand warmers designed by themselves, raising funds to provide HIV Rapid Blood Tests to mothers-to-be in the developing world. There were also photo display and mini quizzes on HIV/AIDS related stories and facts, providing runners and the public with information concerning children and AIDS.
