The event shows the participants’ support and determination to prevent the extinction of wild animals and encourage community not to use oriental medicine with ingredients from endangered animals. 

The race featured distances of 5km, 10km and 21km for runners, including children and professional athletes.

Teams from Embassies in Hanoi, such as the United Kingdom, France, the United States, the European Union Delegation in Vietnam and other organisations also participated in the event.

Richard Leech from the Hanoi Red River Runners club said participants have not only a chance to join their favourite sport but also contribute to protecting endangered animals. 

He expressed his hope that the message of the race will be the motivation for action to protect the wildlife.

Thousands joins Hanoi Run for Children 2016

More than thousands of people participated in Hanoi Run for Children 2016 in the Thong Nhat Park on December 11 to raise funds for the treatment of disadvantaged children with cancer and congenital heart diseases.

The annual event was jointly organised by the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the Embassy of Canada and several political and social organisations and businesses in the capital city.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health, President of Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association Nguyen Viet Tien said the meaningful event creates the venue for people to meet and encourage disadvantaged children with cancer and heart diseases. 

The event also shows the friendship between between people of Hanoi and Vietnam in general and Canada as well as international friends, he added.

Several celebrities took part in this year’s run, including People’s Artist Le Khanh, Miss Vietnam 2016 Do My Linh, actor Phan Anh and football player Hoang Vu Samson. Especially, weightlifter Le Van Cong, first Vietnamese Paralympic gold medallist in Rio 20016, participated in the event.

This year, the run raised nearly 1.3 billion VND (57,700USD). All the money will be donated for cancer and heart disease treatment of patients at the Vietnam National Hospital of Paediatrics, Hanoi Heart Hospital and the Heart Beat Vietnam programme.

VNA