Hong Kong fun runners raise money for a good cause, all while dressed as Santa Claus
- City’s Hash House Harriers clubs band together for festive non-competitive running event to raise money for Operation Santa Claus
- Organisers held seven races spanning from December 5 to 11, with big final taking place on peaks near Yau Tong
Runners in Hong Kong have donned red-coloured, festive outfits and endured the chilly temperatures of the winter season to participate in a Christmas charity drive to raise money for Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
Participants turned up dressed as old Kriss Kringle for the annual Santa Hash, a fundraising drive organised by the city’s Hash House Harriers clubs. This year’s event involved 15 chapters of the non-competitive running organisation and featured seven races spanning from December 5 to 11.
The running sport has participants, also known as hashers, following a paper or chalk trail to reach the finish line. The length of each trail varies and such events are open to both amateurs and seasoned athletes.
The organiser of this year’s event, Mark “Hopeless” Hope, and his co-organiser, Mike “Moonie” Jones, said the hashers had managed to raise their intended target of HK$60,000 (US$7,685) for OSC.
The seasonal event, which helped to support OSC since the latter’s launch in 1988, was a yearly highlight that allowed hashers to meet new people and raise money for a good cause, Hope said.
For the final run on December 11, hashers from all chapters gathered at Sam Ka Tsuen Recreation Ground in Yau Tong to raise money by conquering the local peaks.
“People seem really happy here, especially after the pandemic since there have not been many gatherings like this,” said Iris Wong Wai-yin, who was joining the Christmas run for the first time.
“I came with my husband, it is the second year he is joining the Santa Hash and I support this because everyone is running for charity.”
