This Day, That Year

Item from China Daily, Sept 13, 1988: A Chinese athlete holds up a torch in Tiananmen Square signaling the beginning of this year's Sport Aid Race Against Time. This is first time that China has taken part in the international event.

Charity runs have surged in popularity in China and, as in other spheres of life, mobile apps, have a role to play.

Hundreds of charity-run events are held in China every year. The Beijing Marathon, for example, began to promote "charity runs" in 2011 and has raised millions of yuan for worthwhile causes.