During the race launch ceremony in Hanoi on 1/3, H'Hen Nie shared her past experience supporting a child with leukemia. She carried the child onto a stage, allowing them to experience life and the love of others, giving them strength to fight the illness. As a mother, she now deeply understands the pain of those whose children are unfortunately ill. "I want to powerfully spread awareness of this project so that families feel the care and sharing from society, offering some comfort," the beauty queen stated. Hua Kim Tuyen expressed his honor in using his energy to connect the community and help children with rare diseases.
"Run for Rare Kids" is organized by the Hope Foundation – VnExpress Newspaper, in collaboration with the vRace online sports platform. Nguyen Xuan Tu, Executive Director of the Hope Foundation, said: "The pain of these children is beyond our imagination. However, I believe the power of empathy and sharing gathered here today will also create a life raft beyond imagination."
Immediately following the launch ceremony, ambassadors, delegates, guests, and runners participated in a supportive run within Thong Nhat Park, marking the beginning of a 30-day fundraising journey for children living with rare diseases. Hundreds of medical professionals also joined the event to raise funds for the child patients.
The race is conducted online, recording achievements over one month on the vRace online sports application, and is expected to attract about 5,000 participants nationwide. Participants can run anywhere, at a convenient time, simply by recording their results via mobile devices. Achievements are accumulated over 30 days, providing flexibility for busy individuals, beginners, as well as individuals, groups, and businesses. At the end of the race, participants receive a medal and an electronic certificate from the organizing committee. The top 3 individuals and teams with excellent achievements also receive meaningful awards from the program.
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Miss H'Hen Nie at the launch of the "Run for Rare Kids" race. Photo: Organizing committee provided |
"Run for Rare Kids" is organized in observance of 28/2, International Rare Disease Day. International estimates indicate that over 6,000 rare diseases are currently recorded, affecting approximately 300 million people worldwide. In Vietnam, 6 million people are affected by rare diseases, with 58% of cases occurring in children. Families with members living with rare diseases face long treatment journeys, significant costs, and many challenges in accessing specialized medical resources. Through community sports activities, the program aims to raise social awareness about rare diseases while creating practical support resources for patients.
The race is supported by AstraZeneca Vietnam Co., Ltd., with participation from partners such as: WellCare CS Group Vietnam Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company, FPT Polytechnic College, FPT For Community Fund, and National Hospital of Pediatrics.
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Miss H'Hen Nie, along with guests and runners, participates in the program. Photo: Organizing committee provided |
The Hope Foundation is a social fund licensed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, operating as a non-profit organization, managed by VnExpress Newspaper and FPT Corporation. Over time, the Foundation has implemented numerous community support projects, focusing on education and healthcare. Among these, the Sun of Hope program, launched in 2021, focuses on improving the quality of life and healthcare for thousands of children with severe illnesses and difficult circumstances in Vietnam.
Register for the online charity run for children living with rare diseases here.
Supporting children living with rare diseases is an activity within the Sun of Hope program. Each community contribution sends a ray of light to the nation's future generation. Readers can support the program here:
Program name: Ten cua ban - Benh hiem
Program ID: 195961
Hoang Dung
