Models and actors raise funds for Operation Santa Claus at the beach

Celebrities are used to attending glittering indoor charity events, so it was a novelty to be invited to one on a beach.

"Ballroom charity events are very boring. It's more casual here and a lot more fun," model Lisa Selesner said at the opening ceremony of the first Santa on the Beach charity event, held in Repulse Bay on Saturday. The event was in aid of Operation Santa Claus - the fundraising campaign co-organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.

Her guest celebrity team included models Ana Rivera, Nissa Marion, Jocelyn Luko and Rosemary Vandenbroucke, and actors Michael Wong Man-tak and Terence Yin Chi-wai. They competed against seven other teams.

"We might win because we're really tall," Selesner joked before the event. The expectant mother cheered from the sidelines as her team dived in the sand in the water balloon battle, dressed up as Santa in a race, and set out to sea on a raft.

In the end, Team Sino Group went home with the champions' trophy, although all the participants had three hours of fun on the beach.