Four Pillars of the Veggier Run
The 2025 "Veggier Run Cup" brought together 1,511 runners at Hualien County's Guofu Sports Park on October 25. Co-hosted by the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation and Creativity Only Company, this unique event embodied a powerful blend of four core principles: vegetarianism, sustainability, public welfare, and road running. The initiative aimed not only to promote healthy living but also to support local communities and environmental consciousness, particularly in the wake of recent natural disasters in the region.
The event kicked off at 5:50 AM with a traditional blessing ceremony led by Buting Nukay (林昭雄), chief of the Takubuwan Sakizaya tribe, and priestess Mei-Ling Lin (林美玲), who offered prayers for Hualien and the Guangfu area.
A Race That Feeds the Community
Enthusiastic runners, including both local and international participants, push off from the starting line of the Veggier Run Cup, ready to contribute their efforts to the charitable "You run, I send meals" initiative. | Photo: Meng-En Wu (吳孟恩)
The core public welfare initiative, "You run, I send meals," directly linked the runners' efforts to community support. Each participant's registration directly funded a nutritious vegetarian meal for children in rural schools and residents in long-term care communities, connecting physical effort to a tangible act of compassion.
The event also championed environmental sustainability, aiming for certification under the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management System. Every aspect—from race materials to transportation and venue setup—was designed to be low-carbon, plastic-free, and circular, setting a new standard for eco-conscious events.
Revitalizing Hualien and Supporting 'Superheroes'
Po-wen Yen (顏博文), CEO of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, articulated the broader vision. He and Vice CEOs George Chang (張宗義) and Simon Shyong (熊士民) completed the 6K course, emphasizing the dual benefit of exercise and healthy eating. "We hope to pray for Guangfu and Hualien, and also to attract people to revitalize Hualien," he said, linking the event to disaster recovery and sustainable development goals.
Yun-Chi Lin (林筠麒), the event's initiator, noted that the event was conceived to promote green tourism and sustainable living following the devastating Mata'an River dam overflow. The goal was to encourage local support through consumption to help the community heal.
The Veggier Run Cup also featured the "Future Market: Halloween Vegetarian Party," a two-day market with 60 vendors offering local handmade goods, eco-friendly agricultural products, and diverse vegetarian cuisine, promoting local economic recovery. The organizers also recognized the "superheroes" who volunteered in Guangfu during the relief efforts, presenting them with appreciation gift packages to acknowledge their selfless contributions.
The 2025 Veggier Run Cup successfully fostered a sense of collective responsibility and hope, proving that the simple act of running can contribute to a larger cause for health, environmental stewardship, and community recovery.
Written by Yi-Chien Chen (陳誼謙)
Source: 「蔬跑盃」在花蓮開跑 慈濟顏博文與千人起跑
