Eric Chung (second from left), President of Nippon Paint China, poses with other senior management and employees at the start of the 50-kilometer charity event Walking for Kids on April 19 in Shanghai. Photo: Courtesy of Nippon Paint China

Total 7 groups, 60 employees of leading paint manufacturer Nippon Paint China will put their best foot forward during the fourth annual Walking for Kids, a 50-kilometer walkathon charity event set to begin April 19 in Jinshan district, Shanghai.

Before walking, the group CEO, Mr. Wee SiewKim encouraged all employees "I like to say how proud I am of the 42 staff who have volunteered for the 50 km walk. You are Nippon Paint's proud ambassadors and at the same time you will bring joy to many needy children. It demonstrates not only your own value system but also help extend to the community that Nippon Paint as a whole also cares for them. All 15,000 employees of Nippon Paint will be cheering for you."

Now in its fourth year, the walking for kids urban hike raises money to battle child hunger in China's poverty-stricken regions, with the mission of helping every child receive an egg each day. Organized by the Shanghai United Foundation (SUF), a non-governmental public fund-raising foundation, the activity has already helped 39 grassroots NGOs reach 160,000 children across China. 

As this year's official sponsor, Nippon Paint China will donate half of this year's proceeds to support grassroots NGOs. The other half will go to Nippon Paint China's own charity and its own CSR project, " Color, Way of Love."

In addition, Nippon Paint China will bring wonderful color to this year's event with five colorful murals along the walkathon's 50-kilometer course. With the theme "Add color to your life and safeguard our children's future," each mural brings home the event's mission to help eradicate child hunger with depictions of sprouting, growing, ripening, harvesting and sowing.

The artworks, created by students from Zhejiang University of Technology by using paint donated by Nippon Paint China, seek to inspire others to help children growing up in China's poorest regions to live happy and healthy lives.

"We hope to expand our help for vulnerable groups through employees' personal participation and extensive cooperation with NGOs and enterprises," said Ariel Wu, PR, CSR and brand communication director of Nippon Paint China, "With participation in Walking for Kids, every step we take is on behalf of our affirmation and love for the children in poor areas." 

Nippon Paint China employees take a group photo in front of a mural along the route of the walkathon on April 19 in Shanghai. Photo: Courtesy of Nippon Paint China