(VNF) - The Hanoi Run for Children (HRC) will be held December 11^th at Thong Nhat Park (Reunification Park, Tran Nhan Tong, Le Duan, Nguyen Du, Hai Ba Trung) in Hanoi with the participations of Miss Vietnam 2016 Do My Linh and MC Phan Anh.

The annual event will attract thousands of Hanoians and foreigners taking to help Vietnamese disadvantaged children suffering from cancer and congenital heart diseases.

The annual programme usually sees the participation of Government and city leaders, celebrities, students, international organisations and the city’s public in general such as People’s Artist Le Khanh, striker Hoang Vu Samson of Hanoi T&T.

This year, Miss Vietnam 2016 Do My Linh and MC Phan Anh will take part in the run.

The Hanoi Union of Friendship Association (HAUFO), the Embassy of Canada in Vietnam, the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association (VCFA), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (CanCham), Manulife Vietnam, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Elite Fitness will jointly organise the event.

Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Ping Kitnikone, VCFA Vice President Nguyen Thi Hoi, VCFA Secretary-General Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, Miss Vietnam 2016 Do My Linh, People’s Artist Le Khanh, striker Hoang Vu Samson and representatives of sponsors at the press conference on November 24^th . (Photo: Minh Phuong)

Addressing the press conference on November 24^th, the Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Ping Kitnikone stated every child in the country deserves to enjoy a healthy life, adding that together with the event, Hanoi residents and members of the international community living and working in the capital can make that happen.

She highlighted the significance of the event saying that it aims to join hands to help disadvantaged children while consolidating the bilateral ties between Vietnam and Canada, adding that the Embassy will continue supporting Vietnam’s community-oriented programmers and initiatives.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoi, VCFA Vice President said the event is a people-to-people diplomacy activity, representing the friendship between the two nations as well as between Vietnamese people and international friends.

This year, the event is expected to receive even more support from the Vietnamese and international business communities, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, the VCFA Secretary-General said.

According to the organising board, on December 6^th morning, attendees can warm up with the Elite Fitness professional coaches’ instructions, and have chance to enjoy music performances.

Attendees can warm up with professional coaches’ instructions. (Photo courtesy of Embassy of Canada in Vietnam)

The event was established in 2000 as the Terry Fox Run Hanoi before a change of format in 2009.

It has raised nearly VNS 10 billion to assist underprivileged children at the National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi Heart Hospital and in the Heart Beat Vietnam programme of VinaCapital Foundation. Healthcare has been successfully delivered to over 300 children to date.

Funds will be raised through participant cash donations, the sale of t-shirts and food, and corporate sponsorship.

Hanoians and foreign residents can buy a HRC T-shirt to donate VND 30.000 (USD 1.33) and a pin to donate VND 10.000 (USD 0.44) to the fund at three Joma Bakery Café locations in 43 To Ngoc Van Str., 22 Ly Quoc Su Str., and 38 Lieu Giai Str.), and HAUFO’s location in 15B Phan Chu Trinh Str. T-shirts will be on sale 8 days prior to the event.

The run is not a race, running and walking are both great as long as you're involved. Water and coffee will be provided free of charge during the event.

Food and beverage stalls from Joma Bakery Café will also be set up around the stage and all profits will go to the run’s fund.

Earlier this month, the Hanoi Run for Children (HRC) Organizing Committee have visited the National Children hospital in Hanoi to prepare for the race raising funds for the treatment of disadvantaged children with cancer and heart disease.

Hanoi Run for Children Organizing Committee called for people to join the run and help children in need. (Photo courtesy of HAUFO)

An estimated 12,000 children are born with congenital heart diseases in Vietnam every year, with many of them unable to get treatment as their families cannot afford the high costs./.

Minh Phuong