190 Hong Kong youths and children receive scholarships backed by film star Tony Leung
- Jayden Luk, 16, and Kary Chan, 19, among those awarded by fund aimed at helping teenagers and children facing adversity
A 16-year-old Hong Kong fencer with childhood diabetes is among 190 recipients of a scholarship award designed to help young people and children with chronic illnesses or those who come from underprivileged families to chase their dreams.
Jayden Luk Chun-lok, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged six, received HK$20,000 (US$2,600) from the Hong Kong Paediatric Society Bright Future Scholarship on Sunday after the fund’s spokesman, film star Tony Leung Chiu-wai, donated HK$3 million and a famous painting to the scholarship fund earlier this year.
Jayden, who wears an insulin pump on his waist, told the Post he exercised great self-discipline, counting each gram of carbohydrates he consumed to control his blood sugar level and maintain his fencing performance.
He won a team gold medal for Hong Kong at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Bahrain in February and an individual bronze medal at the World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Saudi Arabia in April.
“My blood sugar goes down when I exercise, making me go weak at the knees and dizzy, and I would have to request a break from the referee,” he said of some of his previous matches.
