(2 November 2015, Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in Mainland China, title-sponsored the “NWDS Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Marathon 2015” for the second consecutive year, which concluded successfully yesterday. In addition to delegating a team of elite runners which created outstanding results in the marathon, the Company donated HKD0.45 million for the education of under-resourced children in Mainland China. This year, the large fund-raising activity in Hong Kong broke the record and recruited over 2,300 runners to challenge the Wilson Trail and the MacLehose Trail, an increase of about 3% compared to last year, and raised an education-aid fund of over HKD2.4 million.

At 8 a.m. yesterday, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration of HKSAR, Mr. Philip Cheung, Managing Director and Executive Director of NWDS, and Mr. Shih Wing Ching, Council to the Board of Sowers Action, fired the starting pistol at Sam Ka Tsuen, Yau Tong where runners started their journey mighty. The Company has always encouraged its employees and customers to actively participate in community activities. Apart from donations, many NWDS staff, including three elite runners among its employees and customers in Mainland China, signed up for the 12km, 26km and 42km marathon with enthusiasm. After intensive preparations, they achieved excellent results that Bing Gu ranked the second runner up in the category of 42km Individual Men Open with the completion time of 4:32:21 while many more garnered merit awards. Furthermore, many NWDS staff volunteered to cheer for runners along the way.

 Followed by the “LOL X Sowers Action Charity Sale” held at LOL (Love·Original·Life) Concept Shops across the country in August, the Company organized a nationwide sustainability activity, “Take the Challenge! Battle Arena Games!”, at the stores yesterday to increase customers’ awareness on the marathon. Over 500 customers took the challenges of tissue relay, can toss and “Sowers Action Hunt Challenge – Nametag Ripping” yesterday, to compete for the title of biggest caregiver with Hong Kong runners. By organizing a retweeting activity called “NWDS CSR Weibo・Blessing Challenge” on NWDS CSR Weibo from 23 October to 2 November with the participation of over 4,000 fans, NWDS further invited a wider community to deliver blessings to the poor students.

Founded in 2000 by Sowers Action, “Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Marathon” aims at raising tuition fees for under-resourced high school students in Mainland China. The marathon comprises of three categories, including Run for Challenge (42km), Run for Sowers (26km) and Run for Education (12km). Runners have to complete designated sections of the Wilson Trail and the MacLehose Trail within 12 hours to imitate the hardship, walking one to two hours to school every day, endured by students in China’s rural mountainous regions to experience their persistence in pursuing studies. The funds raised will be fully used in Sowers Action’s “High School Students Subsidy Scheme” to help high school students complete their three-year curriculum with a subsidy of RMB1,500 each year.

Mr. Philip Cheung, Managing Director and Executive Director of NWDS, said, “Adhering to the spirit of ‘giving back to society’, we has been proactive in fostering the healthy development of under-resourced children. We are honored to title-sponsor the ‘Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Marathon’ again to raise tuition fees for high school students in Mainland China. Last year, I personally participated in the 12km marathon and deeply felt the persistent spirit of the related students. This year, many NWDS employees carry on our love and prepare for the marathon with great enthusiasm despite that some of them have never joined a marathon before. We believe that all difficulties can be overcome if we make an effort, which is the exact same message that the marathon aims to disseminate. Last but not least, we hope that everyone can continue to support Sowers Action, concerting efforts to help more under-resourced children fulfill their dreams of study.”

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