Let’s Walk against SARS Let’s "Walk for Health" Objectives Recently, Hong Kong people have become anxious, agitated and depressed with the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). The confidence of Hong Kong people is further weakened by the negative effects on the economy and the community as a result of the imposition of quarantine policies and travel advisories. To break through the existing mood and to highlight the plight of marginalised groups in their efforts to protect themselves against SARS, Oxfam Hong Kong is launching the “Arm in Arm for a Healthy Community” Campaign. One of the activities of the Campaign is the “Walk for Health” jointly organised by Oxfam Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Medical Association. The “Walk for Health” on Thursday, 1 May is aimed at encouraging Hong Kong people to go hiking in the countryside on 1 May, as a way to relax, to get in touch with nature, and to support marginalised groups. The Walk can also remind people of the importance of exercise to maintain their health. The organisers, Oxfam Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Medical Association, are inviting different organisations to join and support the “Walk for Health”. In addition, we welcome participants to raise funds through the Walk, which will be used in Oxfam’s work in assisting marginalised groups in preventing SARS. As of 15 April, organisations which have pledged support to the Walk include: TVB Commercial Radio HK Council of Social Service HK Women Workers Association HK Buildings Management & Security Workers General Union HK Institute of Architects HK Institute of Planners Details of the “Walk for Health” Date: 1 May 2003, Thursday Format: The "Walk for Health" is aimed at encouraging people to go hiking on 1 May as a way to relax. The organisers will not specify any routes or time for the activity. Participants are encouraged to choose their own routes and time for the hike. Participants in the Walk are asked to wear a green ribbon as a gesture of support for the event and wish for health. Suggested routes: While participants are encouraged to choose their own routes, the organisers suggest some routes for participants' reference (see appendix). For detailed information on hiking trails, please refer to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s web http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/hiking/index.htm or Leisure & Cultural Services Deparment's web 1 http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/LEISURE/LM/parks/cr1/activities/healthy/big5/ qualiwalke.html Registration: Organisations interested in participating or supporting the Walk should call Ms Candy Chow at 3120 5204 or 2520 2525 for obtaining registration and sponsorship forms. The deadline for registration is 30 April. Participants should submit their sponsorship forms together with bank receipts/cheques of their donation to Oxfam by 9 May. Use of funds raised Oxfam Hong Kong believes that everyone should have the basic right to livelihood and health. We have set up a fund of $500,000 to assist marginalised groups in protecting themselves against SARS, as they often don’t have the institutional support nor the funds to purchase the necessary masks and other supplies. The funds raised by the "Walk for Health" will be used to: a) assist small NGOs (non-government organisations), self-help organisations and labour groups in purchasing the necessary materials for marginalised groups in protecting themselves against SARS. The target beneficiaries are low-income families, deprived elderly, people with disabilities, single-parent families, marginalised workers, people with chronic diseases and low-income people of ethnic minorities; b) enhance the capability of community groups in their SARS prevention efforts for marginalised groups; c) assist marginalised groups in lobbying various government departments, including the Housing Department, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department to make sure that their contractors are providing adequate quality masks to their cleaning workers; and d) assist marginalised groups in lobbying the Social Welfare Department for a special allowance to be made available to Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients for them to purchase the necessary materials for protection against SARS. Donors can pay directly into Oxfam Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Bank account 284-401080-003 or the Bank of China account 012-874-0-010515-7. Please send Oxfam the bank receipts, together with personal details and contact to GPO Box 8428. If you donate by cheque, the cheque should be made payable to "Oxfam Hong Kong" (please write "Walk for Health" on the back) and send it to the above post office box. On-line donations can also be made – through Oxfam Hong Kong's website at https://www.oxfam.org.hk/form/2003IT002eo.shtml For enquiries, please call 2520 2525. "Arm in Arm for a Healthy Community" Oxfam Hong Kong is launching the “Arm in Arm for a Healthy Community” Campaign to promote a positive attitude among people of Hong Kong and call on the community to join hands to cope with the difficulties brought about by SARS. Other member organisations of the Campaign include the Hong Kong Medical Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and Commercial Radio. Apart from the “Walk for Health” and the $500,000 grants to marginalised groups, there will be a series of community-based activities in the Campaign. Please watch out for them. 2 (Appendix) Supplementary Information on Hiking 1. Hiking Trails Difficulty:* Easy Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail; Quarry Bay Park QualiWalk Trail; Kowloon Park QualiWalk Trail; Laguna Park QualiWalk Trail; Sai Kung Sea Front; Lions Nature Education Centre, Sai Kung Difficulty: * * Hard The Peak to Pokfulam Reservoir; Shek O Country Park -- Dragon's Back; Quarry Bay Tree Walk; Pat Sin Leng, Tai Po; Bride's Pool Nature Walk; High Junk Peak Country Trail, Clearwater Bay; Tsing Yi Trail; Shing Mun Reservoir, Tsuen Wan; Ho Pui Reservoir, Tai Lam; Nam Sang Wai, Tin Shui Wai; Tung Ping Chau; Tung Lung Chau; Mui Wo to Discovery Bay. Difficulty: * * * Strenuous Wan Chai Gap Road to Aberdeen Reservoir; Fei Ngo Shan; Lion Rock; Amah Rock; Sha Lo Tung, Tai Po ; Chek Keng to Ham Tin Wan, Sai Kung; Lamma Island 2. Safety Hints for Hiking in Country Parks http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/hiking/hike_safety_e.htm 3. Transport Information Related to Country Parks http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/ts_info/index.htm 3 .