The charity marathon attracted the participation of 111 Force members and their families, helping promote the healthy lifestyle concept the Force has been advocating.

Part of the donation - $230,000 - has been used, through the "Friends of Hope Education Fund" to assist the Heep Hong Society in establishing its fourth Sensory Integrative Therapy Room (S.I. Room). Equipped with comprehensive training facilities, the S.I. Room came into operation last year. Specialist therapists are conducting tailor-made training programmes in the S.I. Room to help children suffering from specific learning difficulties, developmental delays, autistic spectrum disorders and developmental co-ordination disorders, and to improve their learning potential.

To mark the official opening of the S.I. Room, Mrs Smith and Mr Chan, along with members of the marathon organising committee, were recently invited to officiate at a plaque unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the ceremony, the children looked after by Heep Hong Society treated the guests to a singing programme, while their parents expressed their gratitude to police officers for their staunch support.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Smith thanked all those who had participated in the charity marathon, and made generous donations. She said their assistance and support had made the charity marathon a most memorable event in promoting healthy lifestyle and care for the underprivileged.

The S.I. Room is complete with comprehensive training facilities, thanks to officers' assistance