More than 7,000 participants have registered for a charity run held in conjunction with the annual Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper-sponsored Sunflower Festival in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Sunflower Festival is hosted each year by Tuoi Tre and the Vietnam Youth Federation to raise awareness and support for pediatric cancer patients in order to commemorate Le Thanh Thuy, a high school student who became famous after losing her battle against bone cancer on November 2, 2007.

It also promotes the efforts of the 'Thuy’s Dream Foundation' – a charitable organization set up by Tuoi Tre to support children with cancer.

This year’s Sunflower Festival, the 12th edition of the event, is themed 'For the Sunflower Warriors' and will feature events and activities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the four-kilometer Sunflower Race will kick off at the Ho Chi Minh City Student Cultural House at the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc District on Sunday morning.

Runners 14 years of age and older can participate by registering at Tuoi Tre’s department of social work at 60A Hoang Van Thu Street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Participants under 14 years old must be accompanied by an older family member.

Aside from the charity run, 160 scholarships valued at VND5 million (US$216.65) each will be presented to cancer-stricken children who are healthy enough to attend school. 

And 1,000 presents worth VND700,000 ($30.34) each will be gifted to pediatric cancer patients in ten hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, and Hanoi.

The festival will also include a blood drive and an exhibition featuring paintings by child cancer patients.

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