Taiwan Quick Take: Charity train ride begins

About 650 people ranging from six to 86 years old set off yesterday from Taipei on a one-week train journey around the nation as part of a "30-hour fast" organized by World Vision Taiwan and a convenience store chain to raise money for famine victims and the underprivileged. The train ride is one of a wide variety of charity activities organized by World Vision this year to collect NT$100 million (US$3.04 million) in humanitarian relief funds. The charity plans to use NT$50 million of the funds raised for assistance within Taiwan, while the remaining NT$50 million will be distributed among rescue and medical care projects abroad, especially in southern Africa and Asia.