Northern trek: PCWC and PCCC members on their long march through Xian to raise money for schools

The money was raised by some 130 members of the Junior Police Officers' Association, Police Adventure Club, Police Chinese Wushu Club and the Police Chinese Culture Club and their friends and families.

The walks brought to over $4 million the total raised by assorted police clubs for the Friends of Hope Education Fund which helps ensure proper schooling for poor Mainland children.

The JPOA walk from Guangzhou to Shaoguan from March 27 to April 1, saw 46 members led by Chairman Lau Kam-wah raise $770,000 to revamp three rundown primary schools along the route.

Mr Lau said: "There's not much you can do with $770,000 in Hong Kong, but you can build several schools on the Mainland with it and accommodate many children. With a simple diet and plenty of exercise, the six-day trip was perhaps the healthiest period of my life."

April 17 to 22 saw 27 PAC members take part in a walk and camp in Guangxi to raise $110,000 to improve a primary school's facilities and build a dormitory to spare numerous students from a gruelling daily hike to school of up to eight hours.

Meanwhile the lengthy Xian to Luoyang walk held by the PCWC and the PCCC April 15 to 23, saw $1.4 million raised. The trip spanning the two northern provinces was an eye-opener for the 60 members and families walking who had the chance to learn more about the different varieties of wushu, while also sightseeing and taking in the area's rich historical relics like the home of the immortal Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.

Participants said they wanted to give underprivileged kids a chance to go to school and encourage others to take part. And they were overwhelmed by local officials and citizens in several areas who joined in the procession gaining wide media coverage and reflecting the benevolence of Force staff. PCWC chairman Choy Kin-cheung said: "While we were walking through Luoyang, we met an elderly man who could only speak the Henan dialect and there was no way we could communicate. So I wrote 'Hong Kong Police Charity Walk' on my palm and he responded with a broad smile. "Mrals are an essential ingredient for practising wushu and we learned a lot about it during the walk. What's more, we were further enlightened by visiting historical relics of ancient wushu masters and other historical figures."

During their Luoyang stay, the participants were received by local Public Security Bureau official Qu Jinhua, who oversaw logistics for the walk. He was pleased to meet Force staff again having come to Hong Kong in 1995 to investigate smuggling of Chinese antiques.

PCCC executive member Carmen Tsang Chui-har said: "After the walk, I realised true happiness comes from a simple life and I very much treasure what I've already got."

The clubs' members all agreed they were enriched by the events and would continue raising money for needy Mainland kids, thanking all who generously donated.

PAC chairman Peter Ip Pau-fook rounded up, saying: "By doing something good for your health you also help poor children which is a win-win situation benefiting everybody."



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