Addressing
a press briefing in Hanoi on October 30, Canadian Ambassador David
Devine called on local residents and those working in the city to join
the run to raise fund to treat children with cancer and heart diseases.
The
activity will also contribute to promoting mutual understanding and
friendship between the Vietnamese and Canadian people, said Nguyen Thuy
Anh, deputy head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs
and Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association.
Establish
in 2000 (formerly known as the Terry Fox Run Hanoi before a change of
format in 2009), the event is recognised as a popular corporate/family
team building activity that promotes social responsibility while raising
awareness about healthcare issues in Vietnam.
Over the past 15
years, the annual event drew thousands of Hanoians and
foreigners and raised about 1 billion VND each year, which was used to
treat poor children at the Hospital of Pediatrics, the Hanoi Heart
Hospital and the Heart Beat Vietnam Programme.
The 2013 run drew over 3,000 capital residents and raised nearly 1.5 million VND (70,000 USD).
The
event was jointly held by the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, the
Vietnam-Canada Friendship Organisation, the Vietnam Union of Friendship
Organisations’ Hanoi Chapter and the Canadian Business Association in
Vietnam.-VNA