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Ada Li

A Hong Kong NGO is working to break down barriers in sport by creating inclusive fitness and running opportunities for people with visual impairment and other special needs.
Founded in 2022 by personal trainer and class instructor Aileen Wong, IncluFit provides free, accessible group fitness classes for people with special needs, including those with Down syndrome and autism, wheelchair users, and for the visually impaired and blind population.
The classes, led by volunteer coaches with backgrounds in fitness, dance and yoga, are open to all ages and genders.
Together with Hong Kong triathlete Hilda Choi Yan-yin, Wong later co-founded IncluFit’s Visionary Runners, aiming to build “a supportive and inclusive running community for visually impaired individuals and volunteer guide runners”.
Participants are paired with guide runners and work together to walk, jog or run at a pace suited to the individual.

Earlier this month, the organisation partnered with local running club Wazup Running Club to host a charity run, allowing members of the public to experience guiding visually impaired runners.
Samson Lai, one of the members of the running club, described it as “another level of running”.
“You have to pay much more attention to the environment and your partner,” said Lai, who guided Benny Chu Kin-wa, Hong Kong’s only Paralympic triathlete, during the event. “I could feel that he was matching my pace, and it really requires coordination.”
Lai added: “Those visually impaired runners also showed us that running is not just chasing speed; as long as you have the heart and desire, anyone can run.”
Wong, 38, was born in Panama and has been involved in volunteering with children with special needs since she was young.
After studying for a master’s degree at Chongqing University from 2011 to 2013, she came to HK for work in 2014. Her decision to establish IncluFit was shaped in part by her own experience of exclusion after moving to Hong Kong.
While running at a pier, she came across a group for visually impaired runners but was unable to join because she did not speak Cantonese. “They told me I could not participate,” she recalled. “That made me think – what about people who want to help but face barriers like language?”
After being turned down by several organisations when she tried to volunteer, Wong decided to start her own initiative. “I realised there was a problem in Hong Kong – I wanted to help, but I could not find a way to do it,” she said. “So I decided to create something as inclusive as possible.”
IncluFit now runs all of its programmes bilingually in English and Cantonese, aiming to remove language barriers for both participants and volunteers.
Its activities include indoor fitness classes as well as outdoor running sessions, with participants ranging from children to adults and representing a broad spectrum of abilities.
“We have people in wheelchairs, people with different types of special needs,” Wong said. “We try to adapt as much as we can, because our goal is to create an inclusive fitness community in Hong Kong.”

IncluFit supported three visually impaired athletes in the adaptive solo category at last year’s Hong Kong Hyrox, marking the first participation by a Hong Kong group in the event’s adaptive division.
That number grew to seven this year, including two athletes competing solo and completing all workout stations independently.
Among them was Chu, one of Hong Kong’s first adaptive Hyrox competitors. After completing the men’s adaptive solo race last year, Chu returned to finish in the men’s doubles event this year.
“I like to challenge myself and try different sports,” said Chu, who has congenital glaucoma. “Through IncluFit, I got in touch with Hyrox. By taking part, I want to promote inclusion and show the public that visually impaired people can also take on events like this.”
All IncluFit participants completed the Cigna Healthcare Hyrox Hong Kong 2026 successfully, and the organisation is now planning to send athletes to the Shenzhen race in August.
Training for Hyrox requires a highly tactile approach, and Wong said athletes rely heavily on touch to familiarise themselves with equipment and movement.

“They need to feel the sandbag, the sled, the rowing machine because many have never used them before,” she said. “We spend a lot of time helping them imagine and understand through touch.”
She added that coaching was built on trust and communication. “When explaining technique, it’s very hands-on. Athletes will place their hands on my shoulders or hips to understand movement. It requires patience and strong connection.”


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Hong Kong NGO helping to break down fitness barriers for those with special needs

IncluFit was started by personal trainer Aileen Wong (middle), who said she experienced exclusion after moving to Hong Kong, and wanted to help those who faced barriers. Photo: Elson Li

IncluFit and Wazup Running Club teamed up to organise a night charity running event this month. Photo: Elson Li

Runners before the night charity running event starting from Tai Ping Shan Street. Photo: Elson Li

Benny Chu (left) doing the sled pull under his Hyrox partner Robert Sue’s guidance. Photo: Handout

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Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

IncluFit recently partners running club to host charity run, supports visually impaired athletes to take part at Hong Kong Hyrox


IncluFit recently partners running club to host charity run, supports visually impaired athletes to take part at Hong Kong Hyrox.


Hilda Choi Yan-yin

Hong Kong NGO helping to break down fitness barriers for those with special needs

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}IncluFit recently partners running club to host charity run, supports visually impaired athletes to take part at Hong Kong Hyrox

IncluFit recently partners running club to host charity run, supports visually impaired athletes to take part at Hong Kong Hyrox