Fu to lead charity charge as elite promise to 'Run with their Hearts'

Some of Hong Kong's leading athletes will be among 1,800 runners taking part in today's 12-hour marathon charity run which hopes to raise funds for the Regeneration Society.

Snooker ace Marco Fu Ka-chun will be swapping his cue for a pair of running shoes as he takes part in the event dubbed 'Run With Your Heart' at the Hong Kong Sports Institute athletic's track.

The event, which has become a regular feature on the sporting as well as the charity calendar, has entered its third year.

Other elite Hong Kong athletes who have indicated that they will take part are female wushu world champion Ng Siu-ching and Paralympic gold medallist fencer Fung Ying-kei. Olympic swimmer Alex Fong Lik-sun has also promised to take part in the event which has raised more than $1.8 million during the past two years.

Malina Ngai, chairman of the organising committee for the event, said approximately 600 more athletes have pledged to take part, although sponsorship will be down from previous years.

'Originally, we could only accommodate about 1,500 runners but now we are expecting about 1,800. We have had more schools having an interest and the event has just become more popular. A few major sponsors had pulled out so we expect to raise between $400,000 to $500,000 this year,' said Ngai.