The 11th annual Hanoi Half Marathon returned to the capital city on December 10 with the theme “Run for Bears – End Bear Farming”, attracting hundreds of runners from 43 countries.
The 11th annual Hanoi Half Marathon returns to the capital city on December 10 with the theme “Run for Bears – End Bear Farming”. (Photo: ENV)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 11th annualHanoi Half Marathon returned to the capital city on December 10 with the theme“Run for Bears – End Bear Farming”, attracting hundreds of runners from 43 countries.
The event was hosted by the charity club Red RiverRunners (RRR), in partnership with Sporting Republic Company and Education forNature Vietnam (ENV). It was the fifth edition in a row the RRR has organisedto raise funds for wildlife protection in Vietnam.
More than 800 people participated in the event, showingstrong support for efforts to end bear bile farming in the country and urge thepublic not to consume bear bile. Many runners came from the embassies of theUS, UK, France and the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam.
Runners pose for a photo at the half marathon. The event attracts over 800 runners from 43 countries. (Photo: ENV)
This year’s half marathon also includes 3km, 5km, 10km,21km challenges and an 800m kid sprint, said Jody O’Dea from the RRR. It aimsto raise public awareness of the need to protect bears, reduce demand forbear-based products and bring an end to the cruel and illegal bear bileindustry, he added.
The 2017 marathon marks a year with lots of achievementsin the efforts to end bear farming in the country, said ENV Deputy DirectorNguyen Phuong Dung.
The Government of Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment toclosing bear farms in the country while the second phase of the project to plantmicrochip in captive bears at farms in hot spots like Hanoi and Dong Nai hashelped intensify monitoring efforts in these areas, she noted.
The run was the start for a bear week taking place inVietnam from December 10-16 to encourage the public to take part in bearprotection activities.-VNA
The Director of Education for the Nature of Vietnam (ENV), Vu Thi Quyen, has said that people should be proud of the achievements made over the past decade in addressing bear farming, protecting biodiversity and aiding the wild bear population.
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The 11th annual Hanoi Half Marathon returns to the capital city on December 10 with the theme “Run for Bears – End Bear Farming”. (Photo: ENV) 
Runners pose for a photo at the half marathon. The event attracts over 800 runners from 43 countries. (Photo: ENV)
