Hong Kong is gearing up for its upcoming marathon in February, and this time, there will be a special team participating. A running club, mostly composed of current and former street sleepers, is getting ready to take on the 10-kilometer event with the aim of challenging the stereotype that homeless individuals are “useless.”
Organized by the Society for Community Organization (SoCO), this unique running club consists of 18 members from marginalized communities who started their training in October. Their goal is to raise a minimum of HK$80,000 for the charity program associated with the marathon.
Within the team, there are five current street sleepers, nine individuals who have previously experienced homelessness, and four members who are in recovery from mental health issues. They come together once a week at the Sham Shui Po Sports Ground for their training sessions, a district where many homeless people reside.
One of the runners, Ng Ka-man, aged 46, had been living on the streets on and off since 2009 before moving into a dormitory operated by SoCO last year. During a training session, he shared that he was encouraged to join the running club by Ng Wai-tung, a seasoned community organizer from the NGO. Ng Wai-tung noticed Ka-man’s health deteriorating due to his unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity, prompting him to motivate Ka-man to start jogging.
Ng Wai-tung is no stranger to using sports as a tool to help street sleepers rebuild their confidence and reintegrate into society. In 2005, he founded the Dawn Homeless Football Team, which later transformed into a charity organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity through sports.
The running club coach, Jacky Chan, emphasized the importance of building trust and providing clear instructions to the runners, many of whom were initially reserved and unsure during the training sessions. He believed that over time, as they progressed through the 16-week training program, the runners would open up and gain a new perspective on life through sports.
Assistant coach Cathi Wong, drawing from her own experience of using running to overcome emotional challenges, aimed to help the amateur runners cultivate a habit of exercise that could help alleviate negative emotions.
As the marathon approaches, Wan Shing, a 65-year-old former street sleeper, expressed his concerns about participating in a long-distance race but also highlighted the importance of supporting others in similar situations. Despite his reservations, Wan decided to give running a chance, hoping to overcome his fears and regain his self-confidence.
With the marathon just a few months away, the runners are determined to challenge themselves physically and mentally. Ng Ka-man, in particular, is focused on losing weight and improving his fitness levels to give his best effort during the race. For him, the message is clear: homeless individuals are not without value, and by participating in the marathon, they are demonstrating their commitment and dedication.
The running club’s journey is not just about crossing the finish line but about overcoming personal hurdles, building resilience, and showcasing the strength and determination of those who have faced adversity. As they prepare to take on the challenge, the members of the running club are rewriting the narrative around homelessness and proving that with support, determination, and a sense of community, anything is possible.
