Olympic champions, ambassadors and university students joined in the 13th annual Beijing Hope Run on Saturday in Chaoyang Park to raise money for cancer patients and research.

Beijing Hope Run has become the most significant cancer research fundraising campaign in China, with more than 250,000 people have participated. This year is the 13th time and more than 4 million yuan was donated. From last campaign, a special fund to help the early-diagnosed cancer patients who live in poverty was set up. This year’s hope run will continue to support the fund and give hope for the cancer patients.

Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney, Olympic table tennis champion Wang Liqin, CCTV host Zhou Tao, Olympic doubles tennis champions Li Ting and Sun Tiantian and comedian Feng Gong brought star power to the run.

Comedian Feng Gong fires a shot to start the Beijing Hope Run on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. [Chen Chen/China.org.cn]