Hanoi (VNA) – This year’s Hanoi Run for Children will take place at the main gate of the Reunification (Thong Nhat) Park, Hanoi from 8-10:00 am on December 6 to raise funds for the treatment of disadvantaged children with cancer and heart disease.
The annual event is jointly organised by the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations, the Embassy of Canada, Manulife Vietnam and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel.
Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam David Devine said every child in Vietnam deserves to be strong and healthy and the community could make this happen.
The run affirms that a community could together move forward for a common cause, he added, noting that it also represents the friendship between Vietnam and Canada.
According to Nguyen Thi Hoi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association, the Hanoi Run for Children was inspired by “Terry Fox Run”, the Canadian non-competitive charity event to raise money for cancer research.
The run has become a traditional fundraising event for local residents and businesses as well as international friends who wish to make a donation to underprivileged children, Hoi said.
It raises about 1 billion VND (44,460 USD) each year, benefiting more than 300 needy children to date, she added.
The money raised from the event will be donated to the Heart Beat Vietnam programme and children in the Vietnam National Hospital of Peadiatrics and Hanoi Heart Hospital, Permanent Vice President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Thi Hai noted.
Several celebrities are scheduled to take part in this year’s run, including People’s Artist Le Khanh, singers Tung Duong and Thai Thuy Linh and football player Hoang Vu Samson.-VNA