Police athletes recently demonstrated both physical fitness and compassion for those less fortunate by participating in the Challenge Against Cancer Double Marathon organised by the Hong Kong Cancer Fund on July 29.

The event saw each of the 25 participating teams running a total of 84 kilometres on treadmills in tag team format, and raising over $600,000 for the Fund in the process.

Chief Inspectors Shirley Chan Mi-ching and Robert Ho Kwok-fai, Inspector Yuen Sze-hoo, Station Sergeants Poon Chi-ming and Yu Chi-keung, Sergeant Chan Tak-kee, Senior Police Constable Wong Ping-leung and Police Constables Ko Chung-ying, Cheng Wai-sum and Lam Ngai-yin comprised the Force team participating in the charity event. Other colleagues as well as family and friends also participated in the fund-raising as they matched their physical prowess against other competitors.

CIP Chan said that colleagues' response to the event was so enthusiastic that their team spent two months in training for the Marathon, raising over $26,000 as a result. "Most of our team-mates attached to last year's Police Tactical Unit "H" company who always get together to participate in long distance running events."

SSGT Poon said: "We seldom use treadmills and therefore needed to practise, not only for experience on the machines but also to increase our stamina for such an event and to formulate our strategy for the day." Their efforts really paid off. They completed the event in just three hours and four minutes!

The event was also an excellent opportunity for participating athletes to keep in touch with old friends while demonstrating their community spirit and further promoting the Force's healthy lifestyle policy. They are now urging more colleagues to join them in future charity events.

Charity motivates team mile after mile