13 / 1 / 2019
Jockey Club supports special marathon to promote social inclusion
A record-breaking turnout of nearly 4,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities and their pair-up runners competed in the annual i-Run ¡V Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon today (13 January) as a means of promoting social inclusion. The Marathon, which took place on the Central and Western District Promenade, is aimed at encouraging proactive sports participation among people with intellectual disabilities, and building mutual understanding between the participants and their pair-up runners from the wider community by practising together.
Funded by the Club¡¦s Charities Trust since 2012, the i-Run is organised by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Among the crowd cheering on the runners were Club Steward Philip N L Chen, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and TWGHs Chairman Vinci Wong.
Mr Chen noted that the Club, as a long term partner of TWGHs, had been supporting its numerous projects for many years, including the meaningful i-Run for eight years in a row. ¡§It is encouraging to see the enthusiastic participation from different sectors of society to make this year¡¦s scale the largest ever. As in past years, members of the Club¡¦s volunteer team are serving as pair-up runners or on-site helpers, so as to facilitate a smooth race, share the happiness of running with people with intellectual disabilities and promote social inclusion,¡¨ he said.
While a majority of today¡¦s participants were from Hong Kong, many joined the event from the Mainland, Macau or Taiwan. Each disabled runner was paired with a volunteer to compete in either a 3 km or 5.6 km challenge race. Pre-race training sessions were organised for the pair-up partners to get to know each other better and build closer rapport. Some 80 members of the Club¡¦s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team made their own personal contribution to the i-Run¡¦s success by serving as pair-up runners or on-site helpers.
From last year onwards, the Club¡¦s donation has enabled several new elements to be added, among them an ¡§Inclusion in School¡¨ Programme under which secondary students are invited to be pair-up runners as a way of fostering the concept of inclusion in schools; and the addition of Green Marathon elements to promote environment-friendly messages. In addition, the winning teams in different categories are now sponsored to join overseas marathons and further broaden their horizons.
As part of the Club¡¦s support, TWGHs has also established the i-Runners¡¦ Club which brings together those with intellectual disabilities and others interested in running, thereby helping to improve people¡¦s physical fitness and promote an inclusive society through participation in sport. Qualified coaching experts provide regular training for the participants in different parts of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city¡¦s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit www.hkjc.com.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1:
Club Steward Philip N L Chen says the Club, as a long term partner of TWGHs, has been supporting its numerous projects for many years, including the meaningful i-Run for eight years in a row.
Photo 2:
Club Steward Philip N L Chen (centre) receives a souvenir from Financial Secretary Paul Chan (right) and TWGHs Chairman Vinci Wong (left).
Photo 3:
Officiating guests are pictured with mascot JC Captain of the Club¡¦s ¡§Progressing Together Cheering Team¡¨.
Photos 4 / 5:
Nearly 4,200 athletes with disabilities and pair-up runners participate in the i-Run ¡V Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2019 to promote social inclusion.
Photos 6 / 7:
Club Steward Philip N L Chen and members of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team join runners for a photo.
Photo 8:
Group photo.
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Photos can be downloaded from the website of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_news.asp).
Media Enquiries
Dikky Sinn
Senior Public Affairs Manager (Charities Communications)
Tel: 2966 7402
Olivia Mui
Assistant Public Affairs Manager
Tel: 2966 7264
