25 October 2015

The 3rd Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions of 2015 
Charity & Fun For All
With Impressive Growth In Swimmers Numbers and Teams   

"The Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions" sponsored by Wheelock and Company Limited and supported by The Bank of East Asia, Limited, Circle K as well as stride rite, has come back for the third time after two successful ones in 2013 and 2014. For the 2015 event, the number of swimmers has doubled to more than 400 as compared to half that number in the first year, with participation from the corporate sector, disciplined forces, schools, and individuals who turned up at Repulse Bay Beach today (25 October, Sunday) to raise funds to support youth services, one of the six core services funded by The Community Chest of Hong Kong. Aside from having fun from competing in their favorite sport, participants and their family and friends enjoy themselves at the games stalls and building sand-castles, a great way to spend the Sunday!

The Organizing Committee Members also expressed its great appreciation for venue sponsor Leisure and Cultural Services Department; food and beverage sponsor Marco Polo Hotels – Hong Kong and major supporting organizations, namely Fuji Photo Products Co, Ltd, The Hong Kong Life Saving Society, Hong Kong Sea School, Community Chest PCSch Volunteer and St John Ambulance Brigade for helping make the event a success.

Community-wide Support 

The event has had the support from corporations, the civil service, schools and individuals. At the opening ceremony, Organizing Committee Chairman Mr Douglas Woo and Co-Chairmen Mr Stephen Fung, Mr Adrian M K Li, JP and Mr Stanley Sun expressed their appreciation to all present when they said, "This being the third year for the Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions, we are pleased to see how our numbers and teams have continued to grow, thanks to the support from so many communities and sectors all over Hong Kong. Because of you, we are able to raise much-needed fund, every dollar of it, to support youth services, one of the Chest’s six major services."

"The Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions" features four categories of races:

The corporate sector has turned out well to form over 60 relay teams.  The companies include: Wheelock Properties (HK) Limited, The Bank of East Asia, Limited, Fung Kids (Management) Ltd, Sino Group, Tricor Services Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Jardine Matheson Group, CITI, Manulife (International) Limited, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, MTR Corporation, Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC, Circle K Convenience Stores (HK) Limited, Li & Fung (Trading) Ltd, stride rite, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Shun Hing Group, Television Broadcasts Limited, Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, The Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers and many more.  

From the civil service, there are twelve teams from the Hong Kong Police Force, Correctional Services Department, Hong Kong Fire Services Department, Customs & Excise Department, Independent Commission Against Corruption and Immigration Department in the Disciplined Force Relay Race.

Among the youngest swimmers are students from: Wah Yan College, Hong Kong; Wah Yan College, Kowloon; Raimondi College; St Paul's Co-educational College Primary School; Diocesan Girls' School; Tsang Pik Shan Secondary School; Hong Kong Sea School and Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School.

In the Leaders' Lap category, industry and community leaders vie for the champion title, a feat that requires determination as much as skills.  The competitors are: Mr Douglas C K Woo, Chairman & Managing Director of Wheelock and Company Limited and Event Organizing Committee Chairman; Mr Stanley Sun, Managing Director of Fuji Photo Products Co., Ltd. and Event Organizing Committee Co-Chairman; Mr Paulo Pong, Managing Director of Altaya Group International Limited and Board Member of The Community Chest; Mr Lau Ming Wai, BBS, JP, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited; The Hon Chung Kwok Pan, Felix, Legislative Councillor; Mr William Crowe, Partner of KPMG; Mr Lai Wing Chau, Niki, Director of LWK & Partners (HK) Limited; Mr Dario Pong, Managing Director of Ferro Resources Limited; Mr Bryant Lu, Vice Chairman of Ronald Lu & Partners (Hong Kong) Limited; Mr James Riley, Group Finance Director of Jardine Matheson Group; Mr Yuen Ka Fai, Vincent, General Manager, Building Division of Gammon Construction Limited; Mr Kevin Lam, Head of Business Space of DTZ/Cushman & Wakefield; Mr Dimitri Gouten, President of PIAGET Asia Pacific and Mr Lam Wai Ming, Vice Principal of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School.  

Eighteen participants from nine families took part in the Family Relay Race. In addition, the newly introduced Open Race – "Golden Kilometer" also attracted 40 swimmers. This year, the oldest swimmer is 63 and the youngest is 8.

A Big Thank-You To All

The Opening Ceremony was officiated by Mr Peh Yun Lu, Simon, SBS, IDSM, Commissioner of Independent Commission Against Corruption; Mr Lo Wai Chung, Stephen, PDSM, PMSM, Commissioner of Police; Mr Tsang Kwok Wai, Erick, IDSM, Acting Director of Immigration; Mr Lam Kwok Leung, CSDSM, Acting Commissioner of Correctional Services; Dr Dennis T L Sun, BBS, JP, Campaign Committee Co-Chairman of The Community Chest; Mr Lionel Lam Kin, PDSM, CPM and Mr Peter H Pang, JP, Board Members of The Community Chest; Mr Douglas C K Woo, Event Organizing Committee Chairman; as well as Co-Chairmen Mr Stephen Fung, Mr Adrian M K Li, JP and Mr Stanley Sun.

The awards were given out by Mr Lee Ka Chiu, John, PDSM, PMSM, JP, Under Secretary for Security. In addition to Champion, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up Awards, the Organizer also introduced Fun Prizes such as "The Overall Fastest Swimmer for 400M", "The Youngest School Relay Team", "The Overall Most Senior and Youngest Swimmer", "The Highest Participation Award", "The Best Cheering Team", "The Best Effort Teams" and "The Most Attractive Costume Award”.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, our Partner in charity, generously supports The Community Chest of Hong Kong in helping to subsidize our administrative costs, thereby enabling 100% of the donations to be allocated to over 150 member social welfare agencies from six major areas of services: children & youth, elderly, family & child welfare, medical & health, rehabilitation & aftercare, and community development.

About The Community Chest of Hong Kong

The Community Chest of Hong Kong was established in 1968 as an independent, non-profit making organization neither funded, nor operated by the Government.  Each year, the Chest organizes fund-raising events to benefit over 150 member social welfare agencies that reach out to more than two million beneficiaries in Hong Kong.  The Chest’s administrative costs come from a subsidized grant from The Hong Kong Jockey Club, in addition to income from investments.  This allows the Chest to allocate 100% of funds raised to charitable use; this operations model makes the Chest unique among its peers, and helps fulfil its mission to act as trustee of the donors. 

The Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions
Winners’ List 

Photo captions:

Photo 1:
 

(From left)

The Community Chest Wheelock Swim for Millions 2015 Opening Ceremony: Mr Lionel Lam Kin, PDSM, CPM, Board Member of the Chest; Mr Stanley Sun and Mr Adrian M K Li, JP, Event Organizing Committee Co-Chairmen; Mr Douglas Woo, Event Organizing Committee Chairman;  Dr Dennis T L Sun, BBS, JP, Campaign Committee Co-Chairman of the Chest; Mr Peh Yun Lu, Simon, SBS, IDSM, Commissioner of Independent Commission Against Corruption; Mr Lo Wai Chung, Stephen, PDSM, PMSM, Commissioner of Police; Mr Tsang Kwok Wai, Erick, IDSM, Acting Director of Immigration; Mr Lam Kwok Leung, CSDSM, Acting Commissioner of Correctional Services and Mr Peter H Pang, JP, Board Member of The Community Chest officiated at the Opening Ceremony.

Photo 2:
 

Open Race - Golden Kilometer awards presented by Mr Stanley Sun (left) and Mr Adrian M K Li, JP (right) to the Champion Mr Alwyn Li (middle); the 1st runner-up, Mr Burton Scott (second, left; award received by his representative) and 2nd runner-up of the award, Mr Douglas Woo (second, right).

Photo 3:
 

Leaders' Lap awards presented by Mr Lee Ka Chiu, John, PDSM, PMSM, JP, Under Secretary for Security (second, left) to the Champion Mr Dario Pong (left); the 1st runner-up Mr Bryant Lu (second, right) and 2nd runner-up Mr Paulo Pong (right).

Photo 4:
 

Team "J.O.Coggins" (left) won the Family Relay Race. The 1st and 2nd runner-up were "Cuttlefish" (middle) and "We're the Leonards!" (right) respectively.

Photo 5:
 

Corporate Relay Race's Champion went to Ferro Resources Limited (middle). The 1st runner-up was the Credit Suisse (HK) Limited (left), and the 2nd runner-up was English Schools Foundation (right).

Photo 6: 
 

Event Champion was English Schools Foundation - KGV Boys (middle). Wah Yan College, Kowloon (right) and Harry Wright International Limited (left) were the 1st and 2nd runner-up respectively.

Photo 7:
 

Ms Alice Ng (left), aged 63, the most senior swimmer; and Colin Au, aged 8, the youngest swimmer (middle).

Photo 8:
 

This year, The new prize "Most Attractive Costume Award" went to The Lane Crawford Joyce Group Limited.

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