World Vision Taiwan (世界展望會) yesterday held its 12th annual 30-hour famine event, attracting over 1,000 participants to fast and save needy children all over the world, while travelling the country on the "famine train," which departed from Taipei Train Station at 2pm yesterday.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
"Let me mark the event by sharing with you my motto back in college -- `simple living and high thinking' -- as the event keeps to its theme," Chang said, promising to go on fasting on his own at home in support of the event.
Chang also said that yesterday's activity reminded him of Mother Teresa who, he said, devoted herself to the poor out of love and denied donations from the rich, who only acted out of charity.
The train, packed with 735 enthusiastic participants, yesterday left from Taipei and picked up the remaining participants in Taichung, as well as stopping overnight in Kaohsiung.
It is expected to tour the southernmost tip of Taiwan, go along the east coast and return to Taipei at 6pm today. A closing party and a TV fundraising program will then be held to mark their efforts and achievements.
KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) and pop singer Karen Mok (莫文蔚), the event's spokesperson, also showed up yesterday at the opening ceremony to see the train off and cheer up the event participants.
Pledging his support, Chen said that he would shut the air conditioner down for 30 hours and save the money for people in need.
The participants are only allowed to drink water, juice and milk during the journey in order to save money and to make donations for helping people in need.
RSS