Donations to this weekend’s Blue Dragon Marathon Walk have received a massive boost after an anonymous donor pledged $30,000 in matching funds to support the campaign.
Every dollar donated before tomorrow morning will be matched until the $30,000 pool is exhausted, helping the annual walk work towards its $500,000 fundraising target ahead of the event on Sunday.
Funds raised support Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation programs assisting children and people affected by human trafficking, homelessness and poverty in Vietnam.
According to the organisation, $150 can keep a child in school for a year, while $500 can help reunite a trafficking victim with their family and provide emergency assistance.
The campaign is supported by The Intrepid Foundation and Intrepid Travel, with Intrepid CEO James Thornton and Co-Founder Darrell Wade among those taking part in the walk in New York City this year.
Vi Do Duy, Blue Dragon Co-CEO (main image), has a personal connection to the organisation. He was one of the first children supported by Blue Dragon after founder Michael Brosowski met him in Hanoi in 2003, when he was working on the streets shining shoes rather than attending school.
After being invited to an English class, Mr Do Duy became one of the organisation’s earliest participants, while his mother was later employed to help care for children supported by Blue Dragon. He has since risen to become Co-CEO of the organisation.
Participants can complete the marathon distance individually or as part of the wider fundraising campaign, with donations made during the matching period effectively doubling their contribution.
