Patrick Low (L), area manager of Shangri-La and general manager of Futian Shangri-La, local government officials and riders who will participate in the charity event unveil the route at a press conference yesterday. (Photo by Sun Yuchen)

Han Ximin

SHANGRI-LA Hotel will launch its second Ride for Hope charity event Jan. 3 to raise 1 million yuan (US$160,000) for children of a village school and build 40 water cellars for the Yao minority group in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The program’s initiator, Nicholas Smith, former manager with Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, will lead seven other team members on the 767-km route from Guilin to Hong Kong in seven days between Jan. 3 and 9, hotel officials said at a press conference yesterday.

“Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have unified all initiatives within five key areas of corporate social responsibility and Ride for Hope is the one project we are really proud of,” said Patrick Low, area manager and general manager of Futian Shangri-La.

In some remote villages in Guangxi, villagers have to collect rainwater during the rainy season to use for their basic needs. They urgently need to build water cellars that can help store water they collect.

During the 21-day, 2,100-km ride in 2013, the hotel raised 343,000 yuan and built 21 water cellars. Each cellar costs around 8,000 yuan to build.

Lu Yang, a manager with a Shenzhen company, was the first donor to fund the building of a water cellar this year after learning about the event.

“Everyone can do their bit for charity. I was moved by the idea of Shangri-La. A little donation can make a difference as long as the money is used wisely,” said Lu.

Smith, now a manager with Shangri-La Shanghai, lost 10 kilograms during the grueling three-week journey last year. He hopes this year’s event will raise more money through public exposure in order to help more people.

Smith has developed the habit of biking between his home and office every day after completing the 2,100-km trip last year. He is training for the coming event by riding about 70-100 kilometers a day.

“This year’s event is still a challenge, as riders have to ride on rolling hills along the route in Guangxi and possibly deal with low temperatures, all without a day of rest,” said Smith.

Shangri-La launched its Care for People Project in 2009 and signed 10 to 15-year partnerships at each hotel with a chosen beneficiary working on children’s health or education programs.