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“Cycling is good for both the body and the mind. The inclusion of meal coupons for those in need makes the event more meaningful and delightful!” In August, Link hosted its annual flagship community engagement event, Tour de Link 2023, bringing the community together through sports. 14,000 challengers from different parts of the city rode their hearts out at this grand event, as participants from the Tseung Kwan O district and Shau Kei Wan district put up the highest mileage in the first and second rounds of the competition respectively.
To recognise their extraordinary achievements, Link, representing the participants, donated meal coupons valued at $100,000 to the elderly and those in need through the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in both districts. Remarkably, even riders in their seventies played a part in securing these victories. Some not only actively took part in the competition but were also rewarded with meal coupons for their contributions. A meal coupon distribution event was held in Tseung Kwan O, where Mr Lam and his wife enthusiastically shared their unique experience of cycling and earning meal coupons with Channel 823.
Mr and Mrs Lam are regular visitors to the Haven of Hope Community Care Service Centre for the Elderly in Tseung Kwan O, where they undergo health assessments and use exercise equipment. They decided to participate in Tour de Link for the first time after being encouraged by the centre’s staff. Mr Lam, who seems far from losing his vigour in his seventies, shared that he had a fondness for cycling since his youth but had gradually reduced outdoor cycling as he aged. “Tour de Link indoor cycling competition is a meaningful activity,” he said. “I hope to see more such events in the future, where elderly individuals like us can participate together.” Mr Lam proposed organising throwing sports, such as darts or the Finnish game Mölkky, which has gained popularity in recent years. He believes that such events can contribute to improving both physical mobility and mental acuity.
Sitting beside Mr Lam, Mrs Lam mentioned that she had experienced a minor stroke two years ago, which necessitated increased hand and foot exercises to maintain her mobility. She found that the Tour de Link indoor cycling competition had been instrumental in helping her achieve this goal. “I don’t know how to ride a real bicycle, but I can ride an indoor bike that is fixed to the ground. This can help me improve my physical and mental health.” Mrs Lam suggested that Link organise curling activities because the sport requires hand-foot coordination that is beneficial to the elderly.
Ms Yip, who is in her sixties, also joined Tour de Link for the first time. As someone who enjoys sports such as hiking, running and swimming, she said. “I pedalled for 20 minutes, and I wanted to continue. But I saw a lot of people waiting in queue, and I didn’t want to hold others up.”
Ms Yip noted that she decided to participate herself and encourage her younger sister and brother to join as a family after receiving a WhatsApp message from the Haven of Hope Christian Service (Haven of Hope) about the competition. “They all live near Sheung Tak Estate, so it was very convenient for them to come to TKO Spot for the event.” She emphasised that beyond the physical fitness benefits, simply participating in and being present at the event brought her a sense of joy and satisfaction. “The atmosphere was lively, and I was happy to be there just to enjoy it.” She thought Link’s cycling event was a success. The on-site coaches were patient in guiding the participants, and everything was well-organised. “Since the cycling equipment and facilities are all ready, it would be great if the event could be held every half-year or every season.”
The enthusiastic involvement of local organisations played a vital role in Tour de Link being warmly embraced by residents in the district. Haven of Hope is one of Link’s community partners. Frances Cheuk, an Advanced Practitioner Social Worker at the Haven of Hope District Elderly Community Service, explained that during the two years of the pandemic, many elderly individuals were confined to their homes. Link was very kind to reserve dedicated cycling sessions for elderly participants at the shopping malls where Tour de Link took place, shortening queue times. “After some of the elderly participants tried the activity and found it pleasurable, they invited friends to join with them. Those who enjoy physical exercise and even those who have recovered from strokes or cancer took part. Everybody had a wonderful time.”
Frances mentioned that the service centre for the elderly primarily serves individuals aged 55 to 100, which constitutes a substantial demographic. Aside from reaching out to the elderly and inviting them to participate in Tour de Link via WhatsApp, its service centre promoted the event through word-of-mouth and personal interactions. This ensured that even elderlies without smartphones could be informed about the event. The feedback from elderly participants has been highly positive.
Haven of Hope provides health and care services and embodies an inclusive community-focused philosophy consistent with Link’s. “Because Link and our organisation both wish to organise more safe and healthy sports or activities for the elderly, our partnership was a natural fit,” Frances said. “Many of Link’s shopping malls already have barrier-free facilities, such as low customer service counters that allow wheelchair users to interact with customer service staff at eye level, bringing convenience to their daily lives and promoting an inclusive community.”
Hong used to work with mentally handicapped persons and the elderly, and now he hopes to bring the public’s attention to the visually impaired and discover their talents. Having a visual impairment creates daily challenges, from performing daily chores to earning a living, Hong said: “As visually impaired people, our own challenges enable us to better understand the struggles of our clients and work together to find a way out. We might not be able to see clearly, but we have inner clarity within us.”
The Hong Kong Family Welfare Society (HKFWS), an NGO that serves families, youth and the elderly, took part in Tour de Link for the third time. Teresa Cheung, Senior Manager of HKFWS and a registered social worker, shared that participants highly appreciated the meaningful cycling event, as it provided an excellent opportunity for family members to exercise together and strengthen their family bonds. The staff at HKFWS’ Tseung Kwan O Service Centre utilised social media to connect with the families they served, encouraging them to nominate at least two family members participate in the competition. They also prepared small incentives, such as sports shop vouchers and certificates. One pair of siblings who performed well and received vouchers promptly visited a nearby sports shop to purchase swimsuits and continued participating in other sports activities.
As a recognition of Tseung Kwan O district’s achievement in accumulating the most mileage during the first round of the competition, Link distributed meal coupons for fast-food restaurants to the elderly through HKFWS. Teresa mentioned that the elderly recipients were extremely delighted to receive these coupons. “Many of them do not cook at home, so having the coupons allows them to go downstairs and dine at the restaurant, which is very convenient.”
Teresa commended Link for its understanding of the daily needs of the local community and the elderly, as well as its willingness to collaborate with various NGOs. She suggested that in the future, Link could provide space at its properties for NGOs to host exhibitions and other activities. This would enable integrated family services to reach and benefit more citizens across different districts.
