From Beijing to Hong Kong: 3,000km run to raise US$1 million for disabled

A jockey-turned-entrepreneur and his team will embark on a gruelling 3,000km (1,864 miles) run from Beijing to Hong Kong in 60 days to raise US$1 million for people with disabilities.

Jo Lodder, a 55-year-old Hong Kong-based Briton, will depart for Beijing with a 20-strong crew on Friday, starting the journey from the Great Wall of China next Wednesday.

An entrepreneur involved in businesses ranging from overseas real estate to software development, Lodder re-evaluated his life during the Covid-19 pandemic and began running for a cause.

Lodder, who moved to Hong Kong in 2009, was the first person to complete Hong Kong’s “five trails” ultra-marathon in five days in 2023 and was among the winners of the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker race in 2024. However, the 3,000km run will be his most ambitious challenge yet.

“We’re running for those who can’t and helping people who are unable to do that,” Lodder said.

Lodder was a professional jockey in the United Kingdom until 1999, when he suffered a broken back during a race. Although he took 18 months to recover, he came to understand that not everyone was as lucky.