Actress Ngo Thanh Van (middle) announced the total money raised at the 8^th Scar of Life event in HCM City on November 29. (Photo: VCF)

The official press conference announced the 9^th Scar of Life Gala Dinner took place successfully on the November 11.

Introduced in 2010, Scar of Life is the idea of Heartbeat Vietnam Ambassador Ngo Thanh Van and the joint effort between her Vietnam Artist Agency and The VinaCapital Foundation (VCF).

Year by year, Scar of Life has inspired thousands of people, from business executives to community leaders and artists; all have taken parts in this magical journey to give the second chance in life for disadvantaged children with congenital heart defects.

The 9^th Scar of Life Gala Dinner on November 30 will gather more than 300 business leaders and artists in the premiere of the short movie “The Paper Plane” directed by Jun Pham.

The short movie is about two poor children having congenital heart defects. Both of them put their dreams into paper planes and fly them to the sky every day with the expectation that their wishes will come true one day.

Jun Pham shares, “It is a challenge to tell a story which is true to life and emotional. I want my audience to support unlucky children and take action to make children’s dreams come true”.

The theme song of the short movie is called “If one day I fly to the sky” which is composed of Hua Kim Tuyen and performed by Truc Nhan.

The fund will be raised from silent and live auctions with more than 70 valuable items related to arts, architecture, fine cuisine, and traveling. The highlight of the night is the High Porcelain Kwan Yin sculpture in the limited edition of 888 masterpieces of renowned Spanish brand Lladró. The exquisitely beautiful and noble statue implies the message of compassion and sympathy to people who are suffering.

The statue is a donation from QHome – the exclusive distributor of Lladró in Vietnam – to raise money to heal children’s hearts.

The organisers hope that the event will continue to receive more support from the normal army, the perfect home to be able to bring bright futures and health to the children all over Vietnam.

Heartbeat Vietnam and Gamuda Land will organise another annual charity programme, Run For The Heart, to raise funds for surgeries for disadvantaged children with congenital heart disease.

This will be held on November 24 at Celadon City in HCM City’s Tan Phu District.

In Hà Nội it was organised on November 10 with more than 9,000 people joining. It raised more than VND 2.7 billion (USD 116,400) to fund operations for 97 children.

In six years the programme has raised more than VND 23 billion (USD 991,500) to help 900 children./.