Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development)
I know Queenie through a marathon event. This year, CEDAR has participated in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2024 ‘Marathon Charity Programme’ and obtained 50 quotas for the ‘10 km race (Non-Challenge Group)’. We invited our donors and friends to participate and donate to CEDAR to support local and Afghanistan children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and their families.
Queenie is one of the participants. She learned about this event through her colleague and immediately signed up when her colleague asked for participants. Looking at her slender figure, I initially thought she was a regular joiner in running competitions. However, she said she seldom runs because she prefers playing tennis and Anaerobic exercise. As for participating in this Run, Queenie said she was doing good deeds. She knows that many organisations have limited resources to help the poor, so when she learned about the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon’s fundraising plan, she was moved to participate, hoping to raise more funds for poverty alleviation ministries. Being full of kindness, she not only supports CEDAR but also fundraises for another organisation.
Donating money alone might not be challenging for Queenie, but she hopes to raise more funds for those in need by personally participating in this 10 km race. She believes that she must try her best, so after signing up, she invited a coaching friend to develop a 10-week training plan: practising three days a week, running for at least 15 minutes each time, and gradually increasing the running time.
Queenie is very busy at work. She gets off work late and is exhausted every day. However, except for the time that she had to suspend her training for two to three weeks due to being infected with COVID-19 and business trips, she insisted on running after work every week. She bit the bullet even her knees got hurt during training and continued running. When asked if she had ever thought about giving up, she said she absolutely did, significantly since her knee problems relapsed every time she ran. However, when she was about to give up, she noticed many different cross signs along the road, as if the Lord gave them to support and encourage her. She was then willing to continue practising and asked a physical therapist for advice on how to relieve the pain of running and not to let the injury affect her response to the Lord’s calling.
Queenie did her best to support communities in need. For someone who is not a regular runner and only started running training seven to eight weeks before the race, she only took one hour and two minutes to complete 10 km on the event day, which is very impressive. I praised her for her running talent, but she said she had only completed an entire 10 km training session for the first time a few days before the competition. She was amazed and grateful.
When asked Queenie how else believers can help the poor besides joining charity running competitions, Queenie believes that as long as we care for others with our hearts, no matter how we do it, we can be a blessing to others and bear witness to God. I hope Queenie’s testimony will encourage all readers to make good use of their gifts and talents and use all possible ways to do their best to lend a helping hand to people facing difficult situations.
with the support of the Lord.
