The SHKP Vertical Run – Race to Shanghai IFC took place today, attracting 1,700 participants to Shanghai IFC again this year as the most celebrated international vertical race in Shanghai. Present at the race kick-off were Jason Yi, Regional Finance Controller of Sun Hung Kai Properties (Eastern China); Luca Merlone, Vice President of the International Skyrunning Federation and Vertical World Circuit; Li Zhongyao, Chairman of the Shanghai Children’s Health Foundation; and Wang Wei, Party Committee Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Children’s Medical Centre.

Organized by Sun Hung Kai Properties, the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity has been held for eight consecutive years, benefiting children and youth service charities with over HK$45 million raised up to 2018. The Shanghai stop – Race to Shanghai IFC – has benefited child patients from disadvantaged families over the years. Registration fees, sponsorship fees and proceeds from charity sales, without deduction of event expenses, are donated to the Shanghai Children’s Health Foundation to support medical treatment for underprivileged sick children at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Centre.

Jason Yi, Regional Finance Controller of Sun Hung Kai Properties (Eastern China), said at the opening ceremony, “The Group has staged the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity for eight straight years in the spirit of Building Homes with Heart. With this international sporting event, our aim is to promote sports for charity and healthy living, while spreading love and positive energy by helping underprivileged groups.”

Top international vertical runners compete for glory; diverse age groups add colour to the event

The SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC was the first internationally recognized vertical running event in Shanghai and has attracted many sports enthusiasts over the years. It allows participants of different ages and abilities to enjoy the fun of vertical running in a wide range of race categories. As in the past year, the races comprised categories, including ‘Elite’, ‘Individual’, ‘Fun Climb – Individual’, ‘Team/Corporate Relay’ and ‘Student Relay’, as well as ‘Fun Climb – Family’ and ‘Fun Climb – Duo’, enabling more people to engage in sports for charity regardless of age.

A stop on the 2019 Vertical World Circuit, with extra bonus points awarded, the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC gathered sports elites from around the world, with 22 top runners vying for glory at the Shanghai IFC. After a close-fought competition, Australian Mark Bourne came first in the men’s Elite race in 7 minutes 58 seconds, while fellow Australian Suzanne Walsham won the women’s race in 9 minutes 25 seconds.

In support of climbing for love, over 30 teams representing reputable mainland and international companies and organizations took part in the relay race. In the ‘Team/Corporate Relay’, Sun Hung Kai Properties came first in 7 minutes 53 seconds, Shanghai Kai Shing Property Management Services was second in 7 minutes 57 seconds, and The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong was third in 9 minutes 34 seconds. This year’s ‘Student Relay’ drew the participation of 180 students, with Zhen Xuan Yu Bei Zu, NYU Team D, and Xiong Di Zhan Dui winning the top three in 8 minutes 53 seconds, 9 minutes 25 seconds and 9 minutes 38 seconds, respectively. In the Individual men’s and women’s races, nearly 800 entrants competed in four age categories. The overall men’s champion was He Liangliang, who finished in 8 minutes 38 seconds, and the overall women’s champion was Wang Huan who completed the climb in 10 minutes 35 seconds.

Garnering love with a different shade of red; sharing joy at a fun carnival

The SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC was held under the theme ‘A Different Shade of Red’. Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the event – whose theme colour is similar to ‘Chinese red’ – conveys passion, love and hope through climbing for charity. Some 1,700 participants in pink event T-shirts assembled at Shanghai IFC to break sweat and enjoy the fun of sports, creating a sea of people with a different shade of red.

Since August, the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC has organized charity flea markets at four weekends with the theme of ‘red’ to spread love and encourage participants to engage in charity. The markets received an overwhelming response. The active participation and generous donations have brought love and warmth to disadvantaged child patients at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Centre. And many who could not take part in the race or visit the markets have shown their love and support for the Race to Shanghai IFC by checking in online. So far, 161 underprivileged child patients from across the country have undergone surgery with the help of the Race to Shanghai IFC.

In addition to experiencing stair-climbing at the highest level in the country, the runners had great fun with their family and friends at the Race Carnival held on the event day. Combining sports and health elements, the carnival was both a favourite fun zone for contestants and their cheering friends and relatives, and an area for professional pre-race relaxation and post-race recovery. The carnival featured a special VR game section, providing parents and children with a chance to enjoy a fun experience together. People found themselves in a virtual space capsule wearing VR glasses, and tried out the ski machine to experience this extreme sport from a new visual perspective.

This year, the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC event continued to receive support from many caring companies. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong offered nutritious lunch snacks; sports brand Adidas provided sportswear for the participants; 5100 Tibet glacier mineral water supplied high quality drinking water; top fitness trainers from ECOLIFE led the runners in pre-race preparation; Colombia China Kaiyi Medical Group arranged top medical support as the event’s medical partner; and health brand NovaPED provided foot health products for the race winners.

About the Vertical World Circuit

The Vertical World Circuit, run by the International Skyrunning Federation, challenges elite runners and vertical run enthusiasts with stairs in iconic skyscrapers around the world. A points system determines the world champion, and cash prizes are awarded to the winners at the finale.

The 2019 Vertical World Circuit takes place in different cities across the globe, including Seoul, Milan, Ho Chi Minh City, Paris, New York, London, Beijing, Dubai, Shanghai and Osaka.

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