Around 500 runners from 40 countries and territories worldwide willcompete in the 2014 Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM), scheduled forSeptember 20-21 in Sa Pa district, the northern mountainousprovince of Lao Cai .
Co-organised by the Danish Embassy inVietnam and the Topas Ecolodge Resort, this year’s event aims toraise public awareness of increasing diabetes in Vietnam .
Addressing a press conference in Hanoi on September 17, DanishAmbassador to Vietnam John Nielsen expressed his hope that the marathonwill encourage young people to live healthily, thus preventing the riseof diabetes.
Competitors can choose a short race of 10km, ahalf marathon of 21km, a full marathon of 42km or an ultra marathon of70km through small mountainous villages.
Each participant willdonate 20 USD as part of his/her race entry fee to a local charityorganisation named Sapa O’Chau, which helps ethnic minority childrenfinish their education.
This is the second time Vietnam hashosted the marathon. Last year’s event, which took place on October 5and 6, attracted 200 participants from nearly 30 countries, including 20from host Vietnam. -VNA