Hong Kong charity A Drop of Life announced on March 8, 2026, the sudden cancellation of its annual "Race for Water" (揹水一戰) charity trail run, originally set for March 22, 2026.
In a social media post, the organiser stated the decision followed "careful consideration," with no specific reason given. All registration fees and donations will be fully refunded, and participants will be notified of arrangements soon. The group apologised for any inconvenience and thanked supporters, emphasising that it is a registered local NGO and all funds raised are used for charitable purposes.
The event, now in its 11th year since launching in 2013, requires participants to carry 4.8 or 5 litres of water along Hong Kong Island trail courses to simulate the struggles of villagers in water-scarce areas. Funds support clean water and sanitation projects in places like Cambodia and Nepal. This edition planned to add a new 7 km route and a virtual "Free RUN" option.
The race resumed post-pandemic in 2023, drawing over 1,000 runners and raising more than HK$910,000 in one year, with recent editions reportedly collecting over HK$2.93 million.
Many participants expressed shock online, as some had just received race packs the day before the announcement, and packet collection was halted.
The cancellation followed a March 7 front-page newspaper report alleging ties between A Drop of Life and the "True Buddha School" (真佛宗, formerly Ling Xian Zhen Fo Zong or 靈仙真佛宗), labelled an evil cult by China's Ministry of Public Security in 1995. The article cited sources claiming "charity packaging infiltration" and noted authorities' close attention, without ruling out further steps.
Company records show A Drop of Life, founded in 1998, changed names multiple times, including earlier ones like "True Buddha School Hong Kong Lotus Light Charity Society Limited" and variations linked to "Lotus Light" or "華光功德會," resembling entities tied to True Buddha School founder Lu Sheng-yen . Some current or past directors have reported connections to related groups or events. The organisation has not directly addressed these claims publicly.