RTHK presenters break record for visiting all MTR stations
RTHK presenters achieve goal of visiting all 83 stations on the MTR lines in under nine hours and raise almost HK$100,000 as well
Local radio presenters Tim Littlechild and Chantel Shafie could have been mistaken for first-time tourists, the way they religiously took photographs of all 83 station names along the 10 MTR lines.
The pair were in fact trying to break a Guinness World Records standard, at the same time raising funds for Operation Santa Claus. On hearing this, the man recalled having seen an advertisement for the event.
"We had lots of strange looks," Shafie said. "It's great to have people who have heard about what we are doing."
The challenge yesterday was wrapped up in eight hours and 18 minutes, 42 minutes ahead of the nine hours set by Guinness based on the number of stations, travelling distance and other factors. The two RTHK Radio 3 hosts raised almost HK$100,000 - and also made Hong Kong the third city, after New York and London, to hold this world record.
The day started at about 8am in Lok Ma Chau. In between rushing to platforms at interchange stations, making live radio broadcasts every hour and uploading live feeds on social networking websites, the duo snapped a photo of each station name as required by Guinness.
It was after 4pm when they ended in Sheung Wan. They thanked MTR employees who helped plan the fastest route that repeated the fewest stations, and who showed them to staff toilets.
"It's was interesting seeing all these people along the way," Littlechild said.
Operation Santa is organised by the and RTHK. Supporters of the Shafie-Littlechild endeavour included the MTR Corporation, Hong Kong Disneyland, Red Bull, Thomson, Grappa's and Trinity International.
Shafie packed "necessities" for the trip - sausage rolls, energy bars, water, make-up, three hats, two T-shirts, a newspaper and a pillow. "Having lived in Hong Kong for almost eight years, I can finally say I've been everywhere," said Shafie, a Londoner. "I hadn't even heard of most of the station names before."
HOW YOU CAN GIVE
- Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com
- Donate at an ATM or at any HSBC branch (account no: 502-676299-001 for SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus)
- Send a cheque payable to "SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus". Mail it to: Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories
- Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you require a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and telephone number, to the previously mentioned address. Please call 2680 8159 or e-mail [email protected] with any inquiries, or visit us online at osc.scmp.com
