Message from the Chair – Aug 2020

Dear AVOHK Members

On 9th August 2020, we said our final farewell to Club Member John McKinven. A viewing was held at Hung Hom followed by a service and cremation at Cape Collinson. A number of us from AVOHK were there to pay our respects. John was also a long standing Hasher and a big shoutout to the Hash community who did so much in helping to organise both services and they certainly gave John a fitting send-off. A big thank you to AVOHK members for their donations to John’s daughter’s education fund. Donations were made directly to The Nesbitt Centre who are managing the setup of this fund with Clifford Chance and I can report that AVOHK members raised over HKD110,000. A really heartwarming and generous response. Thank you also to Kay Rawbone, the COO of The Nesbitt Centre, who personally replied to all the AVOHK members who made donations.

Most members are aware by now that the 2021 Hong Kong Marathon has been postponed from January to a date yet to be confirmed and likewise the 2020 Trailwalker date has been postponed from November to the end of January 2021. The AVOHK Committee have yet to make a decision about our own 2021 AVOHK China Coast Marathon due to be held on Sunday, 10th January 2021, and will carefully consider options over the next month and hope to report back to members in the next newsletter. The same with the 2020 Round-the-Island Time Trial currently scheduled for Sunday, 11th October 2020.

As regards the 2020/21 AVOHK Reservoir Series, there is little we can do at the moment until the Covid-19 situation improves and there is clear direction from the Hong Kong government.

Some good news to report from the RUN refugee group. Mum Louise and her daughter Laura and son Ian have been relocated with the assistance of the UNHCR to start a new life in Maine, Portland, USA. All three were active members of RUN and they flew out from Hong Kong to JFK, New York, on 25th August 2020. Louise is looking for work, whilst Laura and Ian will resume their studies. A wonderful life-changing event for this family and AVOHK wish them well. A good time to remind everyone that there are still many refugees in Hong Kong desperate for this type of opportunity. RUN hope to resume their training sessions now that the LCSD running tracks are open. For further RUN info and for volunteer opportunities, please go to www.run.org.

Well done to all those AVOHK members that competed as part of the Hong Kong Team in the Toronto Masters Athletics Virtual competition. There is a write-up on this event by Bill Purves in this month’s newsletter. There are also a collection of other wonderful articles, including one on the first sub-3:50 mile in 1975 by Sir John Walker. Please take time to read.

Wishing all AVOHK members and their families continued good health and fitness as we all do our bit to fight the Covid-19 virus and try and live a normal a life as possible.

There will be no social run in September but we are hoping to resume in October if Covid-19 conditions continue to improve and restrictions are relaxed.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman