VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC Peace and Development Foundation (HPDF) and Pulse Active, a professional organizer of sport events based in HCMC, will host the HCMC Run – The City Marathon 2017 with an aim to promote healthy lifestyle among people and to show support to people with disabilities (PWD) and Agent Orange Survivors (AOS) on January 14-15 in District 7, HCMC.

Thousands of runners join a 5km Fun Run Da Nang International Marathon to raise funds for Agent Orange victims in Da Nang. (Illustrative image -- File photo)

The main event on January 15 will consist a full-fledged marathon (42 km) and shorter distances, including 5km, 10km and 21km. Under the cooperation of HPDF and Pulse Active, PWD/AOS will participate in this sport event which has been professionally organized since 2013.

Especially, the event will have the participation of Le Minh Chau, 25, an Agent Orange victim who was filmed in Oscar-nominated documentary “Chau, Beyond the Lines” at the 88th Oscar Awards in the U.S. in early 2016. Chau suffers a rare disability in his arms and legs, said to be caused by his mother drinking water from a dioxin-contaminated river before he was born. He is now an artist in HCMC.

Prior to the run, there will be a warm-up day with two sessions from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on January 14 at the Crescent Mall in District 7 with an aim to give young people a chance to meet up, interact with and participate in activities that can help them ease up and get ready for the run. The event brings not only a wholesome platform for those who love running and sports, but also an exciting and rewarding weekend to families, friends and people all over the city. There are exchange sessions with people with disabilities and music performances and exhibition booths by HPDF at the event.

This is a campaign of Orange Initiative (OI) to bring PWD/AOS a fair chance to show their capabilities, assert their resilience and express themselves, and at the same time, bring together and demonstrate friendship and solidarity between people with and without disabilities.

The HCMC Peace & Development Foundation (HPDF), an organization under the HCMC Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO), was established on January 14, 2005. It operates on a voluntary and non-profit basis, and in accordance with the vision, mission and objectives of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation.

Further information can be found at www.hpdf.vn.

SGT