Hong Kong’s Global 6K for Water run highlights need for clean water
World Vision’s race, coming to the city for the first time in December, spotlights how many do not have safe, drinkable water.
Three World Vision Hong Kong youth ambassadors took part in Global 6K for Water in Seoul, South Korea on September 12, carrying a four-litre water container during the run. Photo: HandoutWhile it is relatively easy to access clean water in Hong Kong, many parts of the world today still have scarce supplies. Residents often walk several kilometres daily to collect water that may even be contaminated.
The non-profit organisation World Vision held a “Global 6K for Water” in South Korea this September, a run where participants carry water buckets to understand the hardship faced by those without access to clean water. The global charity is bringing the event to Hong Kong for the first time in December, encouraging participants to raise funds to support the group’s water and sanitation efforts across Africa. The effort will help more children access drinkable water.
The six-kilometre distance represents the average daily walk taken to fetch water in remote areas in parts of the African continent.
Three World Vision Hong Kong youth ambassadors participated in the South Korea run on September 12, carrying a four-litre water container during the race. They found the run physically challenging and a grave reminder of the importance of drinkable water. The experience strengthened their commitment to advocating for clean water.
Microplastics found in human organs spark health concerns and global alarm
Tony Ng Kai-hin, 20, was struck by the knowledge that participants in South Korea had about water scarcity. Many ran to raise awareness, not just for a good time, the university student noted.
“In Hong Kong, it’s rare to experience a shortage. You can wash your hands in public restrooms, and water fountains are available. Water scarcity isn’t something we usually consider,” Ng said.
“But I saw how people in a developed city like Seoul pay so much attention to clean water. Why are they more aware than us?”
He added: “I realised how lucky we are to have clean water everywhere [in Hong Kong], while on the other side of the world, some children miss school because they have to fetch water and face dangers along the way.”
Johnny Chan Tsz-chun, 26, another ambassador, also noticed how aware people in South Korea seemed to be about these issues.
“In Hong Kong, we have parks with automatic sprinkler systems and public restrooms with flushing toilets. Hong Kong and Seoul are cities on a similar level, but people in Seoul seem more concerned about water issues than we are,” said Chan, who works in a medical equipment company.
“That’s something to think about.”
He recalled focusing on grip strength training to prepare for the race, but carrying a four-litre water bucket while running was more complicated than he expected. By the third kilometre, he had to lighten the load.
“If we drink eight cups of water a day, that’s already [almost] two litres. Is the remaining water enough? Plus, uneven roads can cause water spills, so the amount of usable water is limited,” Chan said.
“We can choose to reduce the weight, but many people don’t have that option – they have to carry their water every day without a break.”
Water quality is a matter of life and death. Lacking safe water for sanitation is linked to the transmission of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A and typhoid. According to the United Nations, more than 360,000 children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea resulting from drinking contaminated water and poor sanitation.
The third ambassador from Hong Kong, Timothy Wong Siu-cin, 18, hopes that taking part as a young person will help bring awareness about clean water issues to his peers. “In the past, I’d sometimes throw away half-finished bottled water because I did not want to carry it. Now, I value water much more.”
World Vision Hong Kong’s “Global 6K for Water” run will be held on December 8 from 3pm to 6pm at Tamar Park.