The run is an event within the “Even it Up!” campaign, organised by Oxfam and ECUE to aim for a healthy Vietnam, with no one left behind in accessing and using quality medical services.
Although it rained and suddenly turned cold in Hanoi from early Sunday, the atmosphere at Thong Nhat Park was "hot" since early morning, as hundreds of runners were present to join this meaningful community activity.
True to the name of the event, coming to the race, in addition to promoting the spirit of practicing sports, many people registered to run "For those we love" to express their affection for their family members, friends, colleagues or those they love but are unable to run because of physical and health conditions, thus showing the spirit of joining hands to build a healthier Vietnam.
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Despite the heavy rain, many runners were present early to build the atmosphere at Thong Nhat Park.
Tran Trong Huy, 40, shared that the reason he ran was to support his father in the fight against cancer.
For the same reason, Tran Ngoc Mai, 31, said: "I run for my father and husband who died of cancer. I ran because I wanted to create good habits among my son and daughter for their future health."
As one of the senior runners in Hanoi with remarkable achievements, completing a 42km marathon in less than four hours, Nguyen Hung, 67, retains a healthy body thanks to his regular jogging habit. Hung said that his decision to join the race was because of his family members, with the desire to spread the spirit of practicing sports and improving resistance so as not to have to spend much on medical examination and treatment.
Nguyen Duc Anh, 27, a doctor at the Genetic Counselling Centre, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, said: "We are born fortunate to be healthy and can run on our own feet, but for my patients, especially children with genetic diseases, jogging as well as doing physical exercise like normal people is extremely difficult."
"At this meaningful event, I want to use my feet to run for my less fortunate patients, to contribute a little and also show the responsibility of a doctor in the work of taking care of and improving people's health,” Anh said.
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Participants of all ages joined the event with the desire to spread the spirit of sport in the community.
Pham Quang Tu, Deputy Country Director of Oxfam Vietnam said that the run would inspire everyone to exercise and improve their health through running habits, while it is also a practical action to advocate for more equal access to health services for all.
Also at the event, organisers also launched a donation campaign to support the Resilient Women Club, including female members who are all fighting breast cancer, to not only support them in their treatment but also encourage club members to participate in spreading the knowledge of breast cancer to other women.
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Many child runners are also excited to complete a full 5km run around Thong Nhat Park.
