Thousands of people around the globe have signed up for a World Food Programme event titled "End Hunger, Walk the World". It plans to raise awareness and money to feed hungry school children in some of the poorest countries in the world. Part of the funds raised this year in China will be donated to the areas of the country hit by last May's earthquake.
Of the 30 plus cities in China that participated in the event, Shanghai had the largest turnout.
More than 2 thousand volunteers joined in and witnessed current Olympic gymnastics Champion Li Xiaopeng hosting the proceedings.
"Walk the World" began back in 2003 at the Great Wall in China. Three years later, it had evolved into an annual global charitable activity spanning the globe.
The funds raised in China last year provided food for more than 100 thousand schoolchildren across the world.
Anthea Webb, Director of WFP China, said, "China has few people who suffer from hunger and is now helping people overseas."
This year's activities started in Australia with a climb up the Sydney Harbor Bridge and continue with pop concerts in Indonesia, and activities in the Philippines, China, Britain, Norway and Malawi, before concluding on the Pacific island of Samoa.
The raised funds this year will be all donated to the WFP's Global School Feeding Program. In China, parts of the funds will be earmarked for students in the quake-hit regions.
(CCTV June 9, 2009)
