Jockey Club Summer Visits Programme welcomes over 4,000 elderly and disabled visitors

11 September 2009

Over the past two months, more than 4,000 elderly volunteers and disabled members of the community have been able to enjoy memorable days out as part of the 2009 Jockey Club Summer Visits Programme.  This year's venues have included Sha Tin Racecourse, Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course and Tuen Mun Public Riding School.

For the first time this year, Hong Kong's 18 District Councils were invited to participate in the annual programme.  "The District Councils have always been our important community partners," commented the Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu.  "This programme has further strengthened our collaboration with the District Councils, particularly in promoting positive ageing to the community.  The response has been overwhelming, we never have large enough quotas to cater for the applications."

Members of the District Councils also expressed gratitude to the Club for organising this meaningful event for the elderly and providing them with a chance of meeting other seniors from the same district.

With the theme of "Healthy living to enjoy the apex of your life", elderly volunteers who visited the Club's facilities were able to enjoy a range of games and exercises promoting a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and a positive attitude towards ageing.  The games were designed by "CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors", another project initiated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.  CADENZA is aimed at preparing Hong Kong to address the challenges of an ageing population.

Disabled groups also had the opportunity to visit either the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course or the Tuen Mun Public Riding School to enjoy the experience of golfing, visiting stables and getting close to the horses and ponies.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been funding and organising the Jockey Club Summer Visits Programme since 1979.  To date, more than 2,000 welfare agencies and nearly 150,000 elderly and disabled people have participated in the programme.  CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members, together with volunteers from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and recipients of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship, acted as guides and escorts for the visits.

125th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2009/10 season.  Over the past 125 years, it has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.

Photo 1: Photos 1/2: The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu, along with members of Sha Tin District Council (Photo 1) and Eastern District Council (Photo 2), meet some of the elderly visitors and volunteers at this year's Summer Visits Programme.	Photo 2
Photo 3: Photos 3/4/5/6: Over the past 30 years, the Jockey Club Summer Visits Programme has played host to nearly 150,000 elderly and disabled visitors. This year, more than 4,000, elderly volunteers and disabled members were invited to tour the Club's facilities and were offered tips on a healthy lifestyle.	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6