Strollers get right of way in creche's third sponsored walk Discovery Bay folk woke on Saturday to chirping birds and the laughter of babies and children wearing bright Christmas-red T-shirts, up early for a special walk. As police officers halted the odd golf cart to make way for a column of strollers and tiny scooters, the 500-strong baby brigade progressed through the hilly streets of the bay. It was the Third Discovery Mind Kindergarten charity walk to raise funds for Operation Santa Claus, which saw some 160 children of kindergarten age, siblings, parents and friends pitch in for the poor. The toddlers were mostly wide awake by the time the walk began at 9am. Bus No7 was full of children being fed bottles of milk or drinking yoghurt drinks and downing cookies. The leisurely two-hour, 4km walk, with breaks every 15 minutes, ended at Siena Park. At the finish line by the park's entrance, the children were still laughing and running, poking fun at Jan the clown and giving high-fives when they crossed. They then plopped down on the grass to be entertained by Jan. Others ran straight for the swings and slides. The not-so-fit adults paused to catch their breath. Jane Wilson, spokeswoman for the walk, said: 'The previous two years we've had fantastic results, hopefully we can equal that this year. It's just the right distance for the little ones,' she said. 'We made HK$120,000 last year so it would be nice if we could match that, or it will be better still if we make more because the economy is not good,' she said. 'But the response has just been brilliant this year.' Donation pledges would start coming in this week and the kindergarten would know by next Monday at the latest if it had met its goal. Policeman Paul Hudson and wife Jing-jing, a former Cathay Pacific flight attendant, who came with their three children, said they had walked in all three events. 'They are always pretty well-prepared and well-run and it's as good as last year,' he said. 'There may be a drop-off in [donations]. But people always give to charity, no matter what. Some actually give more at this sort of time.' James Boznos, principal timpanist with the Philharmonic Orchestra, said he, his wife Linda, their two-year-old daughter and months-old twin brothers would definitely do it all again next year. 'It is a very good cause,' he said. 'I hope lots of money got raised this year.' His daughter added: 'I am wearing my red shirt today. I'm just wearing this shirt today.' One of the twins was quiet most of the way, he said. The other one? 'He was sleeping in the stroller when we got here.' A stay-at-home dad with three young sons said he had also baked chocolate-chip cookies for a fund-raising sale. His wife was in Singapore, he said. 'You always have to support your community and whether it's through the school or something else ... people have to ... support the community.' Co-organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK Radio 3, Operation Santa Claus - in its 21st year - will benefit 13 charities. Part of the funds raised will go to the SCMP Homes for Hope project to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake.