Beat the Banana - FAQs

1. What is the difference between the Elite Race and the Fun Run?

   Yes. There are TWO race categories.

   3km Fun Run:

   A family event and fun run – shorter route – participation is the key ingredient!

   All are welcome (no limit on age, or right of abode in Hong Kong).

   The run features a Banana Man dressed in a banana costume. All participants of the 3km Fun Run are encouraged to chase the Banana Man and try to outrun him to the finish line.

   Encourage team participation – family, friends, schools and corporations, etc.

   6km Elite Race:

   More as a personal challenge – longer route – competitive running

   Runners must be at least 18 years old at the time of the race and a holder of the Hong Kong Identify Card.

   There is no Banana Man in the race. All runners of the 6km Elite Race compete against one another at the finish line.

   Champions may win a return ticket to participate in the WCRF UK Beat the Banana Run.

2. Why are there age limit and HK I.D. card requirements for 6km Elite Race participants?

   The male and female champion of the 6km Elite Race will represent WCRF HK to further compete in the “UK version” of the Beat the Banana! 5k Fun Run held by WCRF UK in London in May 2012. To ensure that the champions of the race can travel alone and possess a fair degree of representation of Hong Kong for the WCRF UK’s Beat the Banana! 5k Fun Run in London, all participants of the 6km Elite Race are required to be at least 18 years old at the time of the race and possess a HK I.D. Card when registering for the race.

3. What is the running route?

   3km Fun Run: HK Cultural Centre (starting point) > Tsimshatsui East Promenade (Avenue of Stars) > International Mail Centre > Back to HK Cultural Centre (finishing point)

   

   6km Elite Race: A double-lap from HK Cultural Centre (starting point) > Tsimshatsui Promenade (Avenue of Stars) > International Mail Centre and then back to HK Cultural Centre > Tsimshatsui Promenade (Avenue of Stars) > International Mail Centre > Back to HK Cultural Centre (finishing point)

   

4. Can I participate in both the 3km Fun Run and the 6km Elite Race?

   Absolutely! As long as you meet the eligibilities of the different categories, you’re more than welcome to join both race categories to raise more fund for WCRF HK for cancer prevention.

5. What are the minimum entry donation requirements for taking part in the event?

   

6. Can I register for the run first, and submit my minimum entry donation later on?

   No. Registration for the run will only be processed and accepted when the minimum entry donation required for the specific race category is received at the point of registration.

7. Is my running place guaranteed as long as I have submitted my minimum entry donation at the point of registration?

   No. Places are limited and acceptance to the run is on first-come-first-served basis. If places are available and your registration is accepted, you should receive an email from WCRF HK confirming your place within two business days after you have submitted your registration (either online or mail-in entries).

   If the event is fully booked, even if you have submitted your minimum entry donation with your registration details, you may not be accepted to the race and you will then be offered the option of choosing to donate the minimum entry fee which is already paid to WCRF HK for more research or education work on cancer prevention, or having the paid fee refunded to you.

   As places are limited and demand is high every year, it is highly recommended that you register early for the run to avoid disappointment.

8. Can I join the run as a team?

   Yes. You have the option of joining the event (both 3km and 6km runs) either as an individual participant, or one of the following team options: Family, Friends, Corporation or School.

9. What is the difference between joining the run as an individual vs. joining it as a team?

   The major difference between your joining the run as an individual vs. joining it as a team lies in the eligibility for your winning the top fundraiser award only as an individual, or both as an individual and as a team.

   Participants joining the run as an individual will only be eligible for competing in the Individual Top Fundraiser category, whereas participants joining the run as a team will be eligible both for the Individual Top Fundraiser, as well as the Top Fundraiser awards for different team categories.

   Winners of the Individual Top Fundraiser category will be determined based on the amount the individual participant has raised excluding the minimum entry donation. Winners of the Top Team Fundraiser category, respectively as a Family, Fiends, Corporation or School team, are determined based on the average amount raised per participant (excluding the minimum entry donation) in the same team within each team category.

10. Is there any other incentive for joining as a team?

    Yes. Teams with 10 or more members will receive a Certificate of Appreciation off stage.

    The team with the most number of participants across all team categories will also win the Biggest Team Award.

11. How do I register as a team?

    To register as a team, please choose a Team Leader and set up a team name to register with WCRF HK. Once the Team Leader has submitted his/her registration, members of the team can then register by indicating the Team Name on the form.

    Please note that each team member needs to submit a separate form to ensure each member has agreed to the conditions of enrolling him-/herself into the event.

12. What am I supposed to do as a Team Leader?

    Team Leader is responsible for setting up a Team Name at the point of registration. After successfully registering for the run, the Team Leader should inform members of the team of the team name, and ensure that all members of the team enter the same team name when they submit their registration separately.

    Team Leader will be provided with a Personal Fundraising Page as well as a Team Fundraising Page. Only the Team Leader has the right to set the fundraising goal on behalf of the team on the Team Fundraising Page and make changes accordingly. Team leader will be notified of any sponsorship donation received online in support of the team. While all members of the team can visit the Team’s Fundraising Page to monitor the Team’s fundraising progress and ask for support towards the team via the Team’s Fundraising Page, the Team Leader is encouraged to communicate constantly with the team members to encourage further fundraising efforts through each team member.

    WCRF HK may also contact the Team Leader for matters relating to the team’s participation in the run.

13. What happens after I had submitted my registration online?

    After submitting your registration online, you should receive an email notification within the same day informing you that your registration is being processed. At this point, your place is not yet confirmed.

    Within two business days of your registration submission, you should receive another email from WCRF HK confirming your registration on condition that you have submitted the minimum entry donation. You will also receive an URL to access your personal fundraising webpage in the same email.

    Around 2 weeks before the event, you should receive a notification email from WCRF HK regarding details of the event including time of registration, collection of your runner number and t-shirt etc. on the event day.

    If you do not hear from WCRF HK after two business days of your registration submission, and around 2 weeks prior to the event, please contact WCRF HK staff at tel: 2529 5025 or email: bananarun@wcrf.org.

14. What am I supposed to do with my Personal/Team Fundraising Page?

    Once you have received the URL of your Personal and/or Team Fundraising Page, you are encouraged to share it with as many people as you can and ask them for their support. Your friends can send an online donation to WCRF HK in support of your participation, in which case you will be notified by email from WCRF HK. Any donations received online in support of you will be updated automatically on your personal and/or team’s fundraising page.

15. What happens if I am not able to reach my fundraising goal?

    While there’s no penalty if you are not able to reach your fundraising goal, you are always encouraged to make every fundraising effort to try to reach your goal.

16. Can I edit my Personal Fundraising Pages with a new picture, different fundraising target, personal msg after I’ve submitted the information at the point of registration?

    Yes. You will receive an URL to a web page where you can edit the information on your Personal Fundraising Page in the registration confirmation email from WCRF HK.

17. Why do I need to fundraise for WCRF HK?

    In Hong Kong, one out of four people will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime. The good news is, research funded by the WCRF global network gives us hope that we can reduce our cancer risk by about one-third if we make small changes to our lifestyle. To enable more research on cancer prevention, and to provide more education to the public on how they can reduce their cancer risk, your fundraising effort is crucial.

    By fundraising for WCRF HK, you are joining us in the fight against cancer to save millions of lives and to bring hope to a cancer-free future.

18. How can I submit my additional donation to WCRF HK after submitting my registration?

    You can either send in your additional donation online with your credit card through your Personal and/or Team’s Fundraising Pages, or by cheque made payable to: “World Cancer Research Fund Limited” or by bank transfer to WCRF HK's HSBC account: 110-845831-838.

    If you are sending in your donation by cheque or bank transfer, please provide your name and contact phone no. for our record.

    You can also submit cash donation in person at WCRF HK’s office at Room 601, On Hong Commercial Building, 145 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong during office hours. To ensure that we have staff available to collect your donation, please contact WCRF HK by phone at 2529 5025 prior to your visit to the office.

19. When should I submit all donations to WCRF HK?

    You are encouraged to submit any donations that you have received from your friends/family in support of your participation to WCRF HK as soon as they are received so that your fundraising progress reflected on your fundraising page can be updated in a timely manner.

    Donations received by 5pm on 2 March 2012 will be counted towards the Top Fundraiser Awards. You are still very welcome to submit your donations to WCRF HK after this date, but donations received after 5pm on 2 March 2012 will not be counted towards the Top Fundraiser Awards.

20. What are the prizes for the different race categories?

    Please refer to Categories and Prizes

21. What will I receive for taking part in the event?

    A specially designed commemorative T-shirt, bottled water, light refreshments on-site, first-aid and a clothing storage service.

    A relaxing morning of great fun and energy with your family, friends and colleagues.

    Tax receipts for donation of HK$100 or more will be mailed to the runner after the event.

22. Will the organiser do the time keeping of my running results?

    No. Only the first 3 male and female runners in each race category will be timed.

23. Is there a deadline for registration?

    Deadline for registration is 20 February 2012 (Monday). However, if the event is fully booked before the registration deadline, WCRF HK reserves the right to close registration before the deadline without notice.

24. Can I ask for a refund if I withdraw after registration?

    No. Upon confirmation of the registration, no donations will be refunded.

25. Is there storage service on the event day?

    Yes. There is storage service available on the event day. However, WCRF HK will not be responsible for any property loss. You are strongly advised to bring with you only non-expensive essential items.

26. Can I bring my dog or a pet to run with me?

    No. No dogs or pets are allowed in the event venue by law.

27. When can I collect the runner number and t-shirt?

    Runner numbers and t-shirts will be distributed on the event day at the time of registration before the start of each race. You will receive an email with details about this around 2 weeks before the event.

28. If I am a Team Leader, can I collect the runner numbers and t-shirts of my team members for them on the event day?

    Yes. You are encouraged to make prior arrangement with WCRF HK for collection of the runner numbers and t-shirts on behalf of your team members before the event. After confirming with WCRF HK, you must inform all of your team members that you will be collecting the materials for them on the event day to avoid confusion.

29. What happens if the weather is bad on the event day?

    In the event of one of the following circumstances happening before 5 a.m. on the event day, the event will be cancelled:

    • tropical cyclone warning signal no. 3 or above
    • yellow or above rainstorm warning
    • thunderstorm warning

    Please pay attention to the updated weather information on TV and/or radio and/or the Observatory website. In case the event has to be cancelled, the organiser will further notify participants for redemption of souvenirs by emails. No donations will be refunded. You are advised to check the WCRF HK website on the morning of the event for any last minute changes or cancellations www.wcrf-hk.org