The race may be over, but the results are still coming in! The organisers today announced that the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2009 raised HK$880,000 for Seeing Is Believing, Standard Chartered’s global initiative against preventable blindness, and HK$1,410,000 for the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKPC&SAPD).

Officials also presented prizes to the winners of the Corporate Challenge and SME Marathon Cup during the ceremony. The Corporate Challenge and SME Marathon Cup, races open for Standard Chartered’s customers, both received overwhelming support this year from the business community. During his speech, Mr Benjamin Hung, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, revealed that this year’s race drew more participants to these two events than ever before—76 SME teams and 196 wholesale banking customer teams. KPMG had the highest team participation for the Corporate Challenge, while Retto claimed that honour for the SME Marathon Cup.

“One of the most important aspects of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon is its relationship with the local community … from encouraging people to make exercise and running part of their daily lives, to driving community spirit across the city,” said Mr Hung. “Today we celebrate two other aspects: support from the business community, and contributions to local charities. These stellar results would not be possible without the support of everyone in Hong Kong.”

Other Standard Chartered’s senior executives joining Mr Hung onstage for the award and cheque presentations were Mrs Gloria Chow, Managing Director, Head, Origination & Client Coverage, Wholesale Banking, and Ms Betty Ku, Regional Head, Greater China, SME Banking. Mrs Jenny Fung, Chairman of the HKPC&SAPD, and Ms Mary Lau, Director of Business Development from ORBIS Hong Kong, represented two charity organizations to receive cheques at the ceremony.

Speaking about the fundraising success for the HKPC&SAPD, Mrs Fung said, “I would like to thank Standard Chartered Hong Kong for their unfailing support to help raise funds and public awareness for the HKPC&SAPD and our athletes for 13 consecutive years. Hong Kong’s disabled athletes have a long, illustrious track record of success in the international sporting arena … which requires support and funding from the community at large. We are thankful to have Standard Chartered Hong Kong as our long-term partner to help raise funds and public awareness for disabled athletes through the Standard Chartered Marathon Charity Programme.”

Please see attached the complete list of award winners for reference.

About the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2009

The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2009 was held on Sunday, 8 February 2009. The Marathon is Hong Kong’s largest participatory sporting competition and has set another participation record this year with 55,000 registered runners.

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited is in its 13th year of title sponsorship of the Hong Kong Marathon. Additional sponsors include the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited, Citizen Watches (HK) Limited, Watsons Water, New Balance Athletic Shoes (Hong Kong) Limited, Crown Motors Limited, PURE Fitness, nowSports, and the Information Services Department. Supporting organisations are the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Transport Infrastructure Management Ltd. and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.