A record-breaking 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and their partner pair-up runners competed in the “i-Run – Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2015” today (18 January) to promote social inclusion. This year, the Marathon took place at runway tip of Kai Tak near the Cruise Terminal for the first time.
Funded by the Jockey Club’s Charities Trust with a HK$6.82 million donation over three years, the i-Run is organised by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Among the crowd cheering on the runners were Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow, Secretary for Development Paul Chan, Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip, TWGHs Chairman Ivan Sze, Hong Kong Police Force Regional Commander of Kowloon East Richard Morgan, local outstanding athlete So Wah-wai, and ambassadors Jan Lamb and Corinna Chamberlain.
Mr Chow noted that the Club has supported the iRun since 2012. “It is encouraging that the scale of the iRun gets bigger every year. As the Club will strategically focus on supporting sports projects that can create lifelong positive values and hopes, it will continue to work with TWGHs to support this meaningful event for a further two years as a means to promote social inclusion,” he added.
According to their ability, each disabled runner is paired with a volunteer runner to compete in either the 3-km or 5-km Challenge races. Pre-race training sessions were organised for the runners to get to know each other better and build a closer rapport. Joining the local runners were 138 participants from the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan. 45 members of the Club’s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team took part as pair-up runners or on-site helpers.
To enhance community awareness and encourage wider participation, organisers added three new elements: 3-km Evergreen Group, Corporate Tournament and 1-km Celebrity Game. The Evergreen Group involved people with intellectual disabilities aged 51 or above; the Corporate Tournament gave staff from eight corporations and government departments the opportunity to partner disabled runners and the Celebrity Game invited all guests to join.
The Club’s Charities Manager Macy Chui has participated in the iRun for the past four years, taking part in the 3-km Social Inclusion Tournament this year. “These runs provide a great opportunity for us to take the first step to communicate with people with intellectual disabilities. When we start communicating with them, it helps to eliminate misunderstanding and embody the concept of social inclusion,” she said.
As part of the Club’s support, TWGHs has established the i-Runners’ Club which brings together those with intellectual disabilities and people interested in running, helping to improve their physical fitness and promote an inclusive society through sport participation. Qualified coaching experts provide regular training for the participants in different parts of Hong Kong. For details, please visit http://i-run.tungwahcsd.org/training_en.html.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit 130.hkjc.com.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (3rd right), Secretary for Development Paul Chan (2nd right), Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip (4th right), TWGHs Chairman Ivan Sze (1st right), local outstanding athlete So Wah-wai (9th left), ambassador Corinna Chamberlain (6th left) and other guests cheer the runners on at a£á?i-Run a£á¡§ Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2015a£á?.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (centre) receives a souvenir from Secretary for Development Paul Chan (right) and TWGHs Chairman Ivan Sze (left). He says the encouraging growth of the iRun means the Club will continue to support TWGHs to run this meaningful event for a further two years.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (8th left) pictured with the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members, runners with intellectual disabilities and the HKJC Equestrian Ambassador.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (7th left) pictured with Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip (7th right), ambassador Jan Lamb (6th left) and other guests.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (back row, 3rd left) joins Secretary for Development Paul Chan (back row, 2nd left), Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip (back row, 1st right), TWGHs Chairman Ivan Sze (back row, 2nd right) and other guests to participate in the Celebrity Game with disabled runners.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow finishes the 1-km Celebrity Game.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (5th left) pictured participants of the Corporate Tournament, including the Cluba£á?s Charities Manager Macy Chui and her partner (1st to 2nd left).
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Group photo.
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Some 3,000 athletes with disabilities and pair-up runners participate in the a£á?i-Run a£á¡§ Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2015a£á? to promote social inclusion.
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