Pioneering wheelchair climb of Nina Tower Chinachem Group to support patients with spinal cord injuries

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 23 December 2020 – Chinachem Group (“the
Group”) is backing an initiative to raise funds for patients with spinal cord
injuries. By taking the lead partner role, the Group has given support for a
feat of extraordinary human determination on 9 January 2021 – wheelchair climber,
Lai Chi-wai, will scale the Group’s landmark headquarters building, the
300-metre Nina Tower in Tsuen Wan, by hauling himself up purely through his
upper body strength. The Group will take the opportunity to mount fund-raising
initiatives in support of Lai’s chosen charity, the University of Hong Kong’s
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation Services.

Chinachem Group Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi (second right), Chinachem Group Executive Director and COO Hung-Han Wong (second left), wheelchair climber Lai Chi-wai (centre), and Associate Consultant & Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Spine Surgery Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong Dr Paul Aarne Koljonen (first left)

Chinachem Group Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi (left) interacts with wheelchair climber Lai Chi-wai (right)  

Lai, a former world No. 8 ranked rock climber, became paralysed after
a car accident in 2011 but has since shown remarkable determination to overcome
his disability, and famously scaled Lion Rock in his wheelchair four years ago.
However, this will be the first time he — or indeed anyone else — has attempted
such a feat on one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers.  Besides raising funds for charity, Lai is
keen to encourage people in Hong Kong to keep our faith, despite adversity.

As well as supporting the initiative logistically, the Group is
encouraging its staff, the public and business partners to contribute to the
chosen charity and has pledged to make matching donations for all those
received. The donation amount made by the Group could reach up to HK$3,000,000
in total. HKU’s Spinal Cord Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation Services
focuses on helping spinal cord injury patients and patients with mobility
problems regain mobility with the help of exoskeletons, as well as conducting relevant
research, so that they might be able to “Get Up and Walk” again.

“As a caring developer
committed to bringing positive impact to Hong Kong’s people, community and
environment, we take great pride in creating ‘Places with Heart’ where people
can thrive and participate in community events that promote inclusiveness and
support those in need,” explains Chinachem Group Executive Director and CEO
Donald Choi.  “Lai Chi-wai’s great
determination truly symbolises the Hong Kong spirit — persistence, diversity
and unity. His courage inspires Hong Kong People not to lose faith and continues
the “Lion Rock spirit” that makes us proud.”.

The climb will take place in three stages on Saturday 9 January. Relying
on his determination, upper body strength, and a specially designed rope system,
Lai will haul himself up the Nina Tower, the tallest building in New Territories
and the sixth tallest building in Hong Kong.