About 1,000 runners, including nearly 300 blind people, take part in the race “Chay voi toi – 2gether” (Run with me – Together) in downtown Hanoi on December 2. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – About 1,000 runners, includingnearly 300 blind people, took part in the race “Chay voi toi – 2gether” (Runwith me – Together) in downtown Hanoi on December 2.
The event was held by the Vietnam and Friends (VAF), aVietnamese non-governmental organisation that gathers local and internationalvolunteers to support disadvantaged people in Vietnam and to take care ofenvironmental issues.
The third edition of the race aimed to raise funds for acharitable project namely “Open Road,” the first online library of audio booksfor visually impaired people and its smartphone application. It was also partof a range of activities to raise public awareness of visually impaired people,to encourage confidence in their abilities and promote opportunities for thosewith visual loss in particular and the handicapped in general.
Opening the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J.Kritenbrink said everyone has the right and opportunity to study, work andpursue their dreams and that’s the reason why the US has provided more than 1million USD to support disabled people in Vietnam since 1989.
The event is not only for running with the blind but alsocreates a welcoming environment and eliminates physical and social barriers toenhance public awareness of the importance of equal rights for people withdisabilities, he added.
The runners raced distances of 3.4 km and 5.1 km aroundHoan Kiem lake. Each blind contestant was guided by a sighted runner through arope tied to their wrists so the distance between a visually impaired and asighted was reduced.
A number of activities also took place besides the raceto allow the sighted to experience a life of the blind and understand thembetter, for example, learning Braille and how to use a cane to walk like ablind person and playing chess with the blind. –VNA
VNA
