The continuing fund-raising efforts by Senior Superintendent Peter Barnes and Chief Inspector Paul Keylock will help the children on the long waiting list of the Early Learning and Development Centre for children with special needs.

The officers had raised several million dollars in the past for Watchdog's pre-school service programmes by taking part in marathons overseas, the latest one being the 89-km Comrades Marathon in South Africa in 2004.

In view of a growing demand for Watchdog's services and the long waiting time for children seeking the services, Peter and Paul hope to raise $1 million for Watchdog's plan to set up a new centre in Kowloon, by participating in the 56-km 2 Oceans Ultra Marathon in Cape Town in April next year.

There are currently about 90 children on Watchdog's waiting list, including children from the minority communities, and they normally have to wait for one year before they can receive the centre's pre-school services. The plan for the Kowloon centre is, therefore, aimed at reducing the waiting time.

According to Ms Stella Wong Wai-mui, Executive Director of Watchdog, the first three years of a child's growth are "critical" to the developments of a child's intelligence and speech, and a delay in receiving services will affect developments of children's potentials and increase the pressure and burden on their families. "The money Peter and Paul raise will finance the new centre," said Ms Wong.

The pair has made a good start with their fund-raising efforts, having raised about $200,000 so far, with contributions from the top brass within the Force and former Commissioner Lee Ming-kwai. They are also seeking sponsorship from some of those people who had sponsored their participation in the Comrades Marathon in 2004.

To qualify for their participation in, and to warm-up for, the Cape Town marathon, Peter and Paul will take part in several long runs before next April - a half-marathon in Phuket, Thailand, in June, the Macao Marathon in December and the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in February 2009.

Those wishing to sponsor the officers' charity run may make out cheques payable to "Watchdog Limited" and send them to Paul, who can be contacted on 2329-3015.

Peter and Paul pay another visit to Watchdog kids