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Alice Woodhouse

A Hong Kong human rights group is appealing for money to buy running shoes for eight refugees competing in a 24km trail race on Sunday.
Each runner will need a pair of HK$500 shoes suitable to carry them over the uneven terrain in Action Asia's HK50 trail run and hike.
The Justice Centre Hong Kong has formed a "Run for Justice" team comprising six staff, volunteers and supporters, and eight African refugees.
"Sport is one of the most effective ways to keep them going," centre caseworker Ding Chen said. "It's an opportunity to do something that they are good at, not just trying to survive."
The 24km run, an annual event since 2011, is mostly on the Hong Kong Trail from The Peak to Wong Nei Chung Gap.
Ding was surprised by the number of refugees eager to join the race and how they viewed the route as a "piece of cake."
She said she was also inspired by the bravery of the refugees she works with and had been astounded by how the competitors flew up Hong Kong's steep hills during training.
Some of the refugee runners were professional athletes in their own countries and one was a professional soccer player.
"We are used to running at high altitudes and are consequently good athletes," said a refugee runner from Eritrea in East Africa using the pseudonym Ja Ja.
The team's training is being supervised by a professional running coach from East Africa who is also a refugee.
"This run is an opportunity to get to know one another, have fun, but ultimately, to win. I am running to win," Ja Ja said.
About 8,000 refugees are awaiting their claims for asylum to be processed by authorities in the city. If successful, they will then be settled in other countries.
The team is taking part in the challenge to try to raise HK$150,000 for the centre's mental health assessment and support service.
"The money raised from this run will help refugees get the psychological support they need to tell their story and enable the Justice Centre to gather the psychological and medical evidence to support their refugee claims," said Ravina Lalvani, a trainee clinical psychologist at the centre, who will take part in the race.
Some of the political refugees in Hong Kong were persecuted in their home countries for fighting for rights including free speech.
"They were doing something not dissimilar from what the students are doing now in Hong Kong," said Ding. "They faced not just lengthy detention without charge but even death. They are incredibly brave."
During two months of training, the refugee claimants have worn sneakers or soccer boots.
Sports such as soccer also allowed the refugees to become part of the local community, she said. The non-profit centre has assisted the runners with travel costs to train on the city's peaks.
Donations can be made at www.simplygiving.com/event/runforjustice
Due to an error in the editing process, an earlier version of this story stated that the fundraising goal for the Justice Centre team was "HK$150,00". This has been corrected.


Refugees appeal for running shoes to race at their peak

The Run for Justice donation page

News

Hong Kong

Eight asylum seekers taking part in race to help raise funds for human rights group have lots of enthusiasm but are without crucial footwear


A Hong Kong human rights group is appealing for money to buy running shoes for eight refugees competing in a 24km trail race on Sunday.


Refugees appeal for running shoes to race at their peak

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Eight asylum seekers taking part in race to help raise funds for human rights group have lots of enthusiasm but are without crucial footwear

Eight asylum seekers taking part in race to help raise funds for human rights group have lots of enthusiasm but are without crucial footwear