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Sands China Exec Swims 15 km to Raise Money for Animal Shelter

1:1 match by Sands China doubles donation amount to MOP 180K to AAPAM



(Macao, Nov. 28, 2018) – One of Sands China’s top executives recently swam a 15-kilometre open water marathon in Hong Kong to raise money for the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (AAPAM), with Sands China matching his donation to the local non-profit.

Mark McWhinnie, Sands China’s senior vice president of resort operations and development, competed in the annual Clean Half Extreme Marathon on Oct. 6, raising a total of MOP 90,000 from individual cash donations. Sands China Ltd. matched that donation through its charitable giving programme, Sands Cares, for a total of MOP 180,000 donated to AAPAM as a result of McWhinnie’s individual initiative.

To train for the race, McWhinnie swam a total of 285 kilometres over the course of more than four months. At 15 kilometres, the Clean Half Extreme Marathon is Asia’s longest for an organised event, which McWhinnie completed in just over five hours – taking approximately 15,400 swim strokes and burning over 4,300 calories in the process. Along the way, a support boat helped him stay hydrated and keep his energy up with eight bottles of water, four bananas and two energy gels.

Starting at Hong Kong’s Stanley Beach and finishing at Deep Water Bay, the race is popular as a team relay event, but also allows solo entrants. McWhinnie was one of 11 competitors who took on the more gruelling task of swimming solo in this year’s event.

“It took many, many long hours of training to prepare for this marathon, and it has been well worth it,” McWhinnie said. “I’m so pleased to have swum in this event to raise money for AAPAM, an organisation whose work I care deeply about, and I’m very happy that Sands China has matched the money raised with its own donation.”

Sands China and McWhinnie presented their donations to AAPAM at a cheque presentation ceremony Nov. 22 at The Venetian® Macao.

Choi Wing Chi, chairman of the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau, said: “Mark is one of our dedicated supporters, and we are thrilled that he dedicated his swim to raising funds for our operation. A donation like this helps us continue doing the important work of taking care of Macao’s abandoned pets, keeping strays off the streets, and finding them loving homes. We are grateful for Mark’s kind-heartedness and for his and Sands China’s generous donations.”

The Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (AAPAM) is a non-profit social service organisation dedicated to promoting animal protection, and seeks to raise public awareness of responsible pet ownership. The association provides both temporary and lifelong shelter for abandoned and abused animals, while at the same time helping arrange new homes for them. Since October 2004, the association has taken in more than 1,300 animals and has successfully arranged 300 adoptions to date.
 

 
Photo caption: Representatives of Sands China Ltd. present a ceremonial donation cheque for MOP 90,000 to the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (AAPAM) Nov. 22 at The Venetian Macao. Sands China’s donation is a 1:1 match of the MOP 90,000 in cash donations raised by Mark McWhinnie, Sands China’s senior vice president of resort operations and development. McWhinnie raised funds for AAPAM through his own initiative by swimming a 15-km open water marathon in Hong Kong in October.

Left to right: Lau Pui Chan, and Choi Wing Chi, vice chairman and chairman, respectively, of the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau; McWhinnie; Winnie Wong, vice president of corporate communications and community affairs for Venetian Macau Limited
 

 
Photo caption: Mark McWhinnie, senior vice president of resort operations and development for Sands China Ltd., presents a MOP 90,000 donation to Choi Wing Chi, chairman of the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (AAPAM), Nov. 22 at The Venetian Macao. McWhinnie raised the funds for AAPAM through his own initiative by swimming a 15-km open water marathon in Hong Kong in October.

 

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About Sands China Ltd.
Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928, Sands China or the Company) is a Cayman Islands registered company and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio is comprised of The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, Sands® Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at the Cotai Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre and the Sands Cotai Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Sands Cares
A firm believer in the importance of corporate social responsibility, Sands China Ltd. engages with the local Macao community as a part of Sands Cares – the charitable giving programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. Sands Cares integrates the company’s philanthropic work worldwide in four key areas: financial giving, community problem solving and collaboration, in-kind donations, and team member volunteerism.

For more information, please visit www.sands.com/sands-cares/our-commitment.html.