Record turnout for Jockey Club Special Marathon to promote social inclusion

The TWGHs “iRun” – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026 (iRun) took place today (11 January) along the Central and Western District Promenade and Lung Wo Road. This year, the event, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, saw a record turnout of over 5,500 runners of varying abilities and their pair-up partners joined the fun while promoting social inclusion.

Over 5,500 runners, including participants of varying abilities and their pair-up partners, participated in iRun 2026 to promote social inclusion within the community.

Among the officiating guests cheering on the runners were HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun, Club Steward Philip Lo and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 1st Vice-Chairman York Tseng.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (3rd left), Club Steward Philip Lo (3rd right) and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 1st Vice-Chairman York Tseng (2nd left) officiate at the TWGHs “iRun” – Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026.

Club Steward Philip Lo (centre) receives a souvenir from HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (left), accompanied by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee Jason Lee (right).

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (centre), Club Steward Philip Lo (right) and iRun ambassador So Wa-wai (left).

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Philip Lo emphasised that the significance of iRun extends beyond a single day of competition. The initiative provides diverse support to improve participants’ physical health and foster social inclusion. The Club has always placed great emphasis on the community’s needs, with “Health” being one of the strategic priorities of its Charity’s Trust. It consistently supports various organisations, including the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), to launch initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles and enhance citizens’ overall quality of life.

Club Steward Philip Lo delivers a speech at the starting ceremony of the TWGHs “iRun” – Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026.

Organised by TWGHs and supported by the Trust since 2012, iRun aims to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of sports and become more involved with the community. 

A member of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team and runner pose for a photo.

This year’s event welcomed participants not only from Hong Kong but also Beijing, Guangdong Province and Macau. Runners with intellectual disabilities were paired with volunteers in a 3km challenge race, with pre-race training sessions arranged to help pairs get to know each other. The winning teams will receive sponsorship to participate in marathons outside Hong Kong, broadening their horizons and boosting their self-esteem.

Club Steward Philip Lo with CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners.

This year, the event once again hosted the 1km “iRun for Family”, giving children aged six to 11 with intellectual disabilities and their families the chance to enjoy sporting fun together. To further promote social inclusion, a new “1km iRun Group” race was introduced to include participants with disabilities such as visually impairment, hearing impairment or those undergoing mental rehabilitation. About 800 volunteers, including members of the Club’s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, participated as pair-up runners or helpers to share the joy of running.

CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners receive the trophy for the Corporate Social Inclusion Tournament.

Additionally, the “i-Runners’ Club” provides regular training for participants under the guidance of professional coaches, while “Green Marathon” elements remain integral to the event to encourage waste reduction and recycling, and advocate for environmental awareness.

The Club’s support for iRun, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Club Steward Philip Lo with CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges,
hosted PBC 2026 forum speakers at a Welcome Luncheon at Sha Tin Racecourse today (6
September). The lunch brought together members of Hong Kong’s world-class racing and
philanthropy communities against a backdrop of the opening of the Club’s 2026/27 racing
season. PBC 2026 is convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in
association with the Institute of Philanthropy (“IoP”) and is due to take place in West
Kowloon Cultural District on 7 and 8 September.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges addresses guests at the PBC 2026 Welcome Luncheon.

Established in 2016, the PBC forum marks its fifth edition and 10th anniversary this year
– a decade of convening the global philanthropic community. Under the theme “Leaping
for Impact”, it convenes global leaders from the sports, philanthropic, academic, business,
social and government sectors. Drawing inspiration from the values of sport, the forum will
examine how qualities such as discipline, focus, resilience and teamwork can help drive
enduring and tangible social change.

Speakers for the plenary session “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport”: Li Xiaopeng, four-time Olympic gymnastics gold medallist and Member, International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, and Ambassador, The Gymnastics Association of Hong Kong, China (left); and Yang Yang, China’s first Winter Olympic gold medallist, Vice President, The World Anti-Doping Agency, and Founder, Champion Foundation (right), pose for a photo at the PBC 2026 Welcome Luncheon.

Wang Zhenyao, Founding Dean of the China Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University (left); Wang Ming, Professor, School of Public Policy and Management and Founding Dean of the Institute for Philanthropy at Tsinghua University (right); and Jin Jinping, Associate Professor at Peking University Law School (centre), will be the speakers in the Impact Studio session, “Evolving Philanthropy Landscape in China: Corporate, Family, and Cross Border Giving in Practice”, at PBC 2026.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre) and members of the Club’s Board of Management toast the success of PBC 2026, which is due to take place on 7 and 8 September.