Pasta Run unites community to support mental health awareness

Ten runners dressed up as chefs, bacon, ketchup, and mustard ran together from Harbour Fun Restaurant & Bar in Causeway Bay to Pici Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay along with more than 500 runners on Sunday morning. 

Among them, Lee Ka-wing, 34, who dressed up as a chef, said he wanted to bring joy to the community. 

"I want to bring a smile to everyone's face and the costumes add an extra layer of fun to the race, and it’s all for charity,” Lee said. "Every costume tells a story, and I hope mine inspires others to join in the spirit of the run and support a great cause." 

The Pici Pasta Run, returned on Sunday for the fourth consecutive year to gather runners, families, and food enthusiasts dressed up in whimsical costumes, including giant spaghetti strands and colorful pasta shapes. 

The charity Mind HK said they held the Pici Pasta Run with the local Italian restaurant Pici aimed to raise awareness and funds for mental health initiatives while promoting community spirit through a fun and engaging run. 

The charity run also aimed to uplift community well-being during the unprecedented global pandemic. Last year, it successfully raised over HK$100,000. 

Chan Wing-man, 25, a first-time participant said he enjoyed the event where community, charity, and celebration came together.

"I’ve heard so much about the atmosphere at the Pici Pasta Run, I am excited to be part of such a fun event that combines running and enjoying delicious pasta,” Chan said. "The energy was just incredible and it was not a typical race – it was more about enjoying the experience and the community spirit.” 

Kevin Tsia, 43, brought him closer to his 11-year-old son.

"We’ve seen people in different costumes. That makes the event more enjoyable for our kids and brings us closer as a family,” Tsia said.

Wong Chi-king, 27, a local resident who cheered on the participants, was thrilled to see the energy of the Pici Pasta Run.

"It was wonderful to see how the community came together for such a joyful occasion,” Wong said.

Runners celebrated their finishment with laughter, reveling in the joy of Runners being treated to free pasta after the 30 minutes of waiting when the charity run event ended.

Charlotte Tottenham, an organizer of the event, said there were 556 participants this year. All registration fees of HK$200 will be donated to Mind HK as part of Mental Health Food Week, the city's annual campaign for raising mental health awareness. This year, they raised a total of HK$111,200.

"Every registration fee helped support those in need, and we were proud to continue this tradition of charity," she said.