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[Hong Kong] Over 3,600 participants gathered at Aberdeen Sports Ground on a raining day to attend the opening ceremony of ‘Famine 30’ on Apr. 19. The next day, close to 3,000 participants gathered again at the Aberdeen Sports Ground on a cool weather, and beginning at 10am, they began their 30 hours of fasting just to experience the sufferings of the children living in the impoverished areas of the world.

Mr. Koon-ming Chiu, executive director of Hong Kong World Vision, said that although the weather was bad on the first day, the participant’s passion did not waiver.

“We are truly touched. To starve in a bad weather allows them to experience for the first time more clearly the difficult lives of the impoverished, which will be an unforgettable experience from ‘Famine 30’ and be a driving force for them to help others in the days to come,” said Chiu.

To more deeply instill the identity as life-saving heroes, the organizing committee specially organized activity called “Leaving Behind Heroes Footprints”, where near the end of the 30 hour fasting all participants left their heroes footprint and shaped them into large letters of “Famine Heroes” of sizes 30 yards and 20 yards.

Mr. Koon-ming Chiu, Ms. Ching-han Chan, executive director of commercial radio station, and representatives of the participants together raised their feet and footprints and yelled out “Famine Heroes”, which signified their promise to save the starving children in this world and their determination to show concerns of their needs through actions.

‘Famine 30’ was first held in Hong Kong 1984, and it has been 25 years. Over 60,000 Famine Heroes participated, total funds raised surpassed $217,000,000 HKD. The fund-raising goal for ‘Famine 30’ is $12,000,000 HKD, and the funds gathered will be used towards supporting World Vision Global Food Rescue and areas of developments.

[Editor’s note: reporter Carol Yu contributed to this report.]