Unicef charity run raises over HK$9 million for expectant mothers

Charity was the big winner at the Unicef Half Marathon and 10km race yesterday with more than HK$9 million raised to buy Aids testing equipment for mothers-to-be in the developing world.

The record amount of cash was matched by a record number of runners - in excess of 13,200 - for the seventh staging of the event, which took place at Hong Kong Disneyland, on Lantau Island.

A host of celebrities and politicians were drafted in by the organisers, including Chinese volleyball star Zhao Ruirui and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who handed out souvenirs to people, most of whom didn't actually compete in the event.

A perfect temperature for distance running was offset by heavy rain as the first of the five starts for the 21.1-km run got under way in total darkness at 6.15am.

Thomas Kiprotich claimed his fifth straight victory in the men's race in a time of one hour, 12 minutes and one second, finishing a whopping three minutes clear of second-placed Wun Yiu-cheong. Chan Kwok-hang placed third overall in 1:16:14.

The Kenyan athlete complained of feeling unwell before the race but showed few signs of illness once the starter's gun brought the race to life.