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| Going the distance for charity |
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| Team EDB at the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge 2006. Some 245 officers (60% of EDB’s staff strength)
covered a total of over 1,300 kilometres. |
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Why go the distance
alone when you can run
in the company of close
friends and colleagues?
That was just what a
team of officers from the
Economic Development
Board (EDB) did last year,
and all for the sake of
charity, health and fun.
Braving the rain and hot sun, Team EDB gamely
participated in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate
Challenge and the Standard Chartered
Singapore Marathon in 2006, clocking a
combined distance of over 2,000 kilometres
to raise over $48,000 for its two adopted
charities: St. Joseph’s Home and Hospice, and
the Serangoon Moral Family Service Centre.
But running for charity is not something
totally new to EDB officers.
“In 2005, a small group of us decided to start
the EDB chapter of RunforFunds, an idea
originated from an EDB alumnus,” said Ms
Aw Kah Peng, Assistant Managing Director
(Industry Development).
“That year, 22 officers signed up to cover a
distance of 319 km at the Standard Chartered
Marathon, and our colleagues pledged and
raised $16,000 for charity.”
As EDB marked its 45th anniversary in 2006, officers were
on a search for an equally, if not more, significant way
to celebrate EDB’s team spirit. What started out as a
worthy effort to raise funds for the elderly and less
fortunate children became a campaign to involve and rally
the larger EDB family — EDB Society and alumni.
More than half of EDB’s offcers participated
in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge,
and 58 offcers took part in the Singapore
Marathon. Several former EDB officers
and offcers based overseas also rallied to
contribute by running and pledging funds.
To prepare for the marathons, Team EDB
runners participated in weekly runs to build
up their stamina and strength. For many, it
was just as much about encouraging each
other as doing their bit for charity.
Senior Officer (New Biz) Ray Zhang said:
“I think participating in a race with my
colleagues has helped me build bonds with
them. We spent after-office hours training
together, and motivated each other to do
our best. In the process, I got to know my
colleagues better. After all, running for two
hours together without talking can be quite
boring!”
He also revealed that he was kept busy doing
his “mental sums” during the Singapore
Marathon. “I was timing myself to meet
my personal target, and calculating how
much leeway I had to still meet my personal
targeted timing.
“I kept thinking, I must not let down the guys
who pledged for me to run.” |
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by Lo Hwei Shan, Challenge Editorial Team
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