As much as 45,000 USD raised at the 2013 Hanoi Run for Children has been delivered to the VinaCapital Fund, which will use the money to treat poor children at the Hospital of Pediatrics, the Hanoi Heart Hospital and the Heart Beat Vietnam Programme.

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on April 8 to hand over donation to the fund.

The run was organised by the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association, t he Canadian Business Association, the Manulife Insurance Vietnam company and Sofitel Metropole Hotel in November 2013. It took place at the South Thang Long urban area (Ciputra Hanoi) and drew about 5,000 people.

Speaking at the ceremony, Canadian Commercial Counsellor in Vietnam Francois Lasalles said the annual event has, over recent years, collected a large amount of money to support the treatment for Vietnamese children with heart diseases and cancer, especially ones from poor backgrounds.

Established in 2000 (when it was known as the Terry Fox Run Hanoi, before a change of format in 2009), the event is recognised as a popular corporate team building and family activity that promotes social responsibility while raising awareness about healthcare issues in Vietnam.

The 2012 event was attended nearly 7,000 people and raised 1.2 billion VND (57.100 USD).-VNA