Zhang Lixin (right) receives the 11th Beijing Hope Run ambassador certificate from Zhao Ping, President of CIH, at the press conference in Beijing on September 9 (CHEN RAN)

The 11th Beijing Hope Run will take place in Chaoyang Park on Saturday, October 24, 2009.

This year's run will start at 9 a.m. at Lihua Square and end at 3 p.m., with a distance of approximately 8 km; the theme is "Love Passes Hope of Life."

The Cancer Institute and Hospital (CIH) under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences is the principal organizer of the run. The Canadian Embassy of Beijing, the China Cancer Foundation, the International Red Cross (Beijing Branch) and the Chaoyang District Health Bureau are the main coordinators. Zhang Lixin, a wheelchair racer who won four gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, is the ambassador of this year's run. In addition, a charity project called "Health Theme Park" will be held parallel with the run, providing cancer prevention information through lectures, brochures and boards.

The origin of the Beijing Hope Run is the Terry Fox Run, the largest single-day cancer fundraiser in the world, in memory of Terry Fox, a Canadian bone cancer patient who ran 5,373 km across Canada in 143 days in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research. Since the Beijing Hope Run was first held in September 1999, the CIH has been its principal organizer in cooperation with the Canadian Embassy in China.

"The concept of 'caring for health' has been widely adopted by the public here in Beijing, as the run continues," CIH President Zhao Ping said at a press conference on September 9.

According to Zhao, more than 200,000 people have taken part in the run. The event has raised more than 4.7 million yuan (approximately $618,000) for ongoing cancer research in China, including cervical cancer research in the poor and remote areas of Shanxi Province, the Taihang Anti-Cancer Project which covers a population of over 600,000, and epidemiological research on malignant tumors in Tibet Autonomous Region.

"This serious endeavor will continue as best as we can," Zhao said.

"The run is open to everyone, since participation is considered more important than completing the set distance. Participants can show their support for the anti-cancer campaign by running or walking."

For more information, please contact CIH at 010-8778 8888 or 010-6770 4397.