A virtual race is underway to raise money for Viet Nam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund, with the message “Steps for Solidarity”, according to the Viet Nam Sports Administration.

Launched by the e-newspaper VnExpress on June 2, “Run for Vaccine” aims to join the Government and Ministry of Health’s drive to call for donations to the COVID-19 vaccine fund.

Each participant will make a contribution of 100,000 VND (4.36 USD) to the fund. The race is expected to attract about 10,000 runners. As of noon June 5, four days after registration started, more than 3,200 people had registered to join the virtual competition.

After registration, runners can start running from the next day. The race has four distances – 10 km, 21 km, 42 km, and 100 km – and each runner has 21 days to complete the distance they have registered.

There is no limit on the number of runs as long as the runner complete the distance with a speed of three to 12 minutes per km.

The registration will open until July 18.

After completing the challenge, the runner will receive a virtual certificate and a virtual medal to celebrate a meaningful journey.

The COVID-19 vaccine fund has been set up to receive voluntary financial and vaccine donations and assistance from organisations and individuals for the procurement and import, doemstic research and production, and provision of COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Ministry of Health, Viet Nam needs 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine costing 25.2 trillion VND (1.1 billion USD) to inoculate the roughly 75 million people needed to reach herd immunity.

On June 5, the State-run Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) announced it will donate 400 billion VND to the fund. The corporation and its members have contributed more than 408 billion VND to the national COVID-19 fight since late April.

Source: VNA