Nearly 10,000 people in Shanghai yesterday completed a 3.8-kilometer run at Century Park for the Shanghai Charity Long Run for Hope, originally named the Terry Fox Charity Run.

This was the 10th year the event has been held in aid of cancer research, said the run's co-organizer, Shanghai Charity Foundation.

Participants were from all walks of life. Duncan Thomson, an intellectual property lawyer from Australia, said he came to support the event in memory of his father.

"My father was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2003, and passed away in 2004," he said. "I wish to call for more concern for cancer patients and research."

Tiffany Wandy from the United States said she did not really mind the changed name of the charity run. "I think the new name is more inclusive," she said. College students also took a big part, including 100 English students from Shanghai International Studies University.

"We have taken part in the run for several years, helping educate students about charity," said Han Fang, an official with the college.

Yesterday's run collected at least 350,000 yuan (US$47,300). Since 1998, the run in Shanghai has raised more than 3.6 million yuan for cancer research foundations.

(Shanghai Daily December 10, 2007)