Overseas contingent take up the challenge while others race to raise funds for Hong Kong's disabled athletes

They are generations apart. But paraplegic fencer Fung Ying-ki and veteran runner Yuen Hung will embody the spirit of the SAR's growing community of runners as they take part in the fifth Standard Chartered Marathon this Sunday.

Over 9,000 runners will take part in Hong Kong's popular event - up from last year's record number of 7,000 - which uniquely also caters for people who have the will but not the legs with races in the half-marathon and 10 kilometres category.

Fung, triple gold medallist at last year's Sydney Paralympics, will be among the large field in the 10km race while Yuen, the oldest man running on Sunday, will take part in the 21km half-marathon.

The limelight on the day will be stolen from this unlikely pair by a strong overseas field of men and women in the marathon which is being backed for the fifth consecutive year by Standard Chartered. But Fung and Yuen are already winners for just taking part - like the thousands of other part-time runners who will turn up on Sunday morning at the start line in front of the Peninsula Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Fung, 20, is part of a team of sports stars, all members of the Friends of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, who will be raising cash for the SAR's disabled athletes.

The sponsors have thrown down a challenge whereby for every runner a sports celebrity overtakes during the 10km race, the Bank will donate $10 towards the charity fund for the disabled.