Operation Santa Claus: Hong Kong hospital staff showcase culinary creations, don festive outfits at Christmas party to raise funds for charity
- Outdoor Christmas party was highlight of series of activities hosted by Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital to support Operation Santa Claus, an annual fundraising drive
- Hospital staff cooked culinary delights, participated in workout competitions and indulged in home-made fare offered at stalls to raise money for charity
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff wowed with culinary creations, joined a chips-eating competition and donned festive outfits at a Christmas celebration as part of a month-long effort to raise funds for charity.
Hospital staff cooked culinary delights, participated in workout competitions and indulged in home-made fare offered at the stalls. Proceeds from the booth sales and contest sponsorships will go to OSC.
“We have been supporting OSC since 2009,” said Joseph Chan Woon-tong, the hospital’s deputy medical superintendent, who initiated the partnership with OSC. The hospital had raised about HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) for the initiative by the end of last year.
“We think OSC is very meaningful,” Chan said, noting that some OSC-funded organisations offered health-related services, which aligned with the hospital’s focus. “OSC supports charities which look after the mental and physical health of members of our society.”
Chan said that in addition to raising money and awareness about other people’s needs, the OSC activities allowed staff to enjoy themselves and encouraged them to look after their health.
During the “let’s shake it out for charity” challenge, staff exercised for a minute to earn a HK$200 windfall for OSC from the hospital and prearranged donors. Participants donned festive costumes, with some dressed as Christmas gifts, while they worked out.
Excitement mounted as medical teams squared off to make the best and most creative Hong Kong-style waffles at the “super chef with love” competition.
“It was fun,” said clinical oncologist Amy Chang Tien-yee, whose team decided to give the waffles a Christmas touch. They won the “top fundraiser” award in the contest.
“Cooking is like treating patients – you need to be well prepared. You need to think in advance how to perform each step to ensure it will go smoothly,” she said, adding her 12-year-old daughter had helped her practise at home.
“I always encourage my children to get involved in charity and volunteer work. I encourage them to understand more about OSC, which works with other parties to help people in need.”
Some hospital staff decided to take a break from their healthy diet and joined a chips-eating competition as their colleagues cheered them on.
Early white Christmas for Hong Kong festive market supporting Operation Santa Claus
At the lunchtime party, staff enjoyed the food and drinks served at booths set up by various hospital units.
“We hope our colleagues will have more positive energy. So our booth is called ‘fuel food’,” said Alex Leung Chin-pang, senior medical technologist in-charge at the pathology department, who helped at a booth serving tea and egg tarts. “We hope that after having our ‘fuel food’ they also feel good at this joyous Christmas time.”
Senior nursing officer Candice Chan Suk-kuen said she took part each year.
“I’m very happy because I can help others while having fun at the same time,” she said
OSC is funding 15 charitable projects this year. Since its launch in 1988, the campaign has raised HK$369 million to support the Hong Kong community through 338 projects.
