The Nature Conservancy celebrates 11 years as sole beneficiary charity partner as runners champion conservation across Asia Pacific
HONG KONG, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Barclays MoonTrekker returns this month as one of Hong Kong’s most iconic overnight trail challenges, uniting championship-calibre runners, the wider trail community and conservation supporters through The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Run for Nature initiative.
Left: Runners gather at the starting line for Barclays MoonTrekker 2025. Right: Two-time Barclays MoonTrekker champion John Ray Onifa (“Stingray”) crosses the finish line to claim victory at Barclays MoonTrekker 2023. ©Barclays MoonTrekker
Headlining this year’s Run for Nature initiative, Barclays MoonTrekker 2026 will welcome reigning men’s Asia Trail Master Championship Final champion John Ray Onifa (“Stingray”) from the Philippines, alongside returning Barclays MoonTrekker competitor Gildas Humeau, winner of the 2025 Mixed Pair category. Together, they will help champion TNC Run for Nature initiative, inspiring more people to appreciate, protect and restore the natural places they love.
Taking place on 30–31 October 2026, Barclays MoonTrekker challenges participants to cross the rugged trails of Lantau Island through the night and reach Lantau Peak before sunrise. Since its launch in 2009, the event has brought together runners, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts and corporate teams in support of meaningful causes. This year, thousands are expected to take part across the event’s 20km, 30km and 40km routes, experiencing Hong Kong’s countryside under moonlight and sunrise while helping raise vital funding and awareness for conservation.
Featured Run for Nature Runners
Each of the invited runners brings a personal connection to nature — and a shared commitment to protecting it — using their voice and platform to encourage greater appreciation, protection and restoration of the landscapes that have shaped their running journeys. Whether racing through the Philippines’ forests, or returning once again to Hong Kong’s trails, they share a common belief that the natural places that inspire adventure are also worth safeguarding.
John Ray Onifa, better known throughout Asia’s trail-running community as “Stingray”, returns to Barclays MoonTrekker as a two-time Barclays MoonTrekker champion, having previously won in 2018 and 2023. He returns this year for his third MoonTrekker appearance. Earlier this year, he also captured the men’s Asia Trail Master Championship Final title in Hong Kong, further cementing his position among Asia’s leading endurance athletes.
“The trails are where many of us find freedom, strength and community — and that’s exactly why they deserve our respect and protection.” said John Ray Onifa. “I want my running to stand for something beyond performance. Through Run for Nature, I hope more people will experience the outdoors, fall in love with it, and feel motivated to protect it.”
Returning for his seventh Barclays MoonTrekker, Gildas Humeau is among the event’s most enduring supporters. After winning the Mixed Pair category in 2025, he returns this year as a solo runner, continuing his long-standing support for nature conservation through Barclays MoonTrekker.
While their stories and backgrounds may differ, John Ray Onifa and Gildas Humeau are united by a shared belief that running can be a powerful platform for positive change. Through Barclays MoonTrekker and Run for Nature, they hope to encourage more people to experience nature and play a role in protecting the natural places they love.
The Nature Conservancy marks 11 years as sole charity beneficiary partner
This year also marks the 11th year that TNC has served as Barclays MoonTrekker’s sole charity beneficiary partner. Over more than a decade, the partnership has helped transform every kilometre covered, every fundraiser launched and every donation made into support for conservation efforts across Asia Pacific.
“Barclays MoonTrekker has always been about more than reaching the finish line — it’s about the journey, the people you meet along the way, and the connection we all share with nature.” said William Sargent, Founder of Barclays MoonTrekker. “We are proud to continue our partnership with The Nature Conservancy and to welcome an exceptional group of featured runners supporting the Run for Nature initiative. We hope their stories will encourage others to challenge themselves outdoors while helping protect the landscapes that make these experiences possible.”
Support from Barclays MoonTrekker participants, donors, volunteers and corporate teams has contributed to TNC’s science-based conservation efforts across Asia Pacific, helping address pressing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and climate change.
In Hong Kong, TNC established two new restoration sites in Deep Bay to help protect biodiversity hotspots and demonstrate how nature-based solutions can help coastal cities adapt to climate change. In Indonesia’s Riau Islands, TNC worked with its local partner Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) to help secure protection for 840,000 hectares of seascape, safeguarding coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass habitats that support both marine life and local livelihoods. In Borneo, TNC and its local partners expanded sustainable forest management efforts, bringing 87,000 hectares of tropical forest under protection and improved management to benefit wildlife and communities alike.
“These achievements reflect a simple but powerful truth: when people unite behind nature, real and lasting impact becomes possible,” said Anthony Gao, Executive Director for Hong Kong and Regional Partnerships, The Nature Conservancy. “As I return to run Barclays MoonTrekker for the second year, it’s inspiring to see how this community rallies to challenge ourselves and translate that effort into meaningful conservation action. For 11 years, the Barclays MoonTrekker community’s support has strengthened conservation work across Asia Pacific, helping to protect and restore ecosystems—from coastal and marine ecosystems to forests and grasslands. At a time when climate change and biodiversity loss are affecting communities throughout the region, this partnership demonstrates how collective action can deliver real results for both people and nature.”
How to Support
As the 2026 edition approaches, Barclays MoonTrekker and The Nature Conservancy invite runners, hikers, corporate teams and supporters to take part—whether by joining the trails, volunteering, or fundraising. Together, the community can help translate an iconic overnight challenge into continued conservation impact across Asia Pacific.
For those who would like to learn more about fundraising and how to support The Nature Conservancy through Barclays MoonTrekker, please visit:
Fundraising | MoonTrekker
Barclays MOONTREKKER x TNC AT A GLANCE
Date: 30–31 October 2026
Location: Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Routes: Intro 20km / Moonlit 30km / Sunrise 40km
Charity Beneficiary Partner: The Nature Conservancy
Featured Runners Supporting Run for Nature: John Ray Onifa (Philippines) / Gildas Humeau (Hong Kong)
Barclays MoonTrekker: https://www.barclaysmoontrekker.com
The Nature Conservancy (TNC): https://www.tnc.org.hk/en-hk/
For media photos, please download from the LINK
About Barclays MoonTrekker
Barclays MoonTrekker is a unique overnight trail event in Hong Kong that challenges participants to reach the summit of Lantau Peak before sunrise. It offers three route options: 30km, 40km, or an introductory 20km route. The 30km and 40km routes summit Lantau Peak, Hong Kong’s second highest mountain, allowing runners to witness stunning dawn views if they “beat the sun.” The 20km route, introduced to encourage newcomers to trail events, is only open to first time Barclays MoonTrekkers and does not summit Lantau Peak. In addition to providing a thrilling experience, Barclays MoonTrekker is a major fundraising event that has raised over US$2.6 million for children’s education and environmental conservation since its inception in 2009. Nominated for Hong Kong’s best trail event, Barclays MoonTrekker guarantees an unparalleled experience by combining the challenge of overnight trail hiking/running, the opportunity to summit Lantau Peak for breathtaking dawn views, and the pertinent cause of raising funds for environmental sustainability. Its unique format has made it a standout event in Hong Kong’s world-class trail running scene. To learn more, please visit: https://www.barclaysmoontrekker.com/
About The Nature Conservancy Asia Pacific (TNC)
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 86 countries and territories (41 by direct conservation impact and 45 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has been in Asia Pacific for over 30 years with projects in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. In 2019, TNC was awarded the Lui Che Woo Prize for Sustainable Development.
Website: http://www.tnc.org.hk
LinkedIn: The Nature Conservancy in Hong Kong
Facebook: TNC HK 大自然保護協會
Instagram: @tnc_hk
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