In aid of the President’s Challenge 2005, Singapore’s healthcare professionals are taking up the challenge to complete a 100km health overnight relay run from 0000hrs to 0800hrs of 10 July 2005. This is the second year that SingHealth and its healthcare partners are participating in the President’s Challenge, reaching out to the less privileged in the community through a mass charity drive. Funds are raised through pledge card donations, the "Adopt-a-Step" event and other corporate contributions. This year, SingHealth targets to raise about $500,000 for the 47 charities under the President’s Challenge.

For this year, a new group of runners are stepping forward to rally for donations and participate in the event. They are our patients who have survived serious medical conditions and together, they are participating in a mass 2.5km "Walk-A-Jog with Survivors" at the end of the 100km overnight relay from 9 to 10 July. SingHealth is hoping to draw in another 1,000 or more runners for the walk-a-jog and support the President’s Challenge Health Relay event.

To encourage our disease survivors in their community service effort, on 15 to 17 June, SingHealth's cluster of hospitals, national centres and 9 polyclinics will kick off SingHealth's "Adopt-A-Step" fund-raising campaign in aid of the President's Challenge 2005. This unique fund-raising initiative provides an avenue for those who would like to encourage the survivors in their endeavour on the morning of 10 July 2005.

To support their fellow survivors and other participants, Mr Daniel Cheong (CGH's Colon Cancer Survivor), Mr Selamat (NHC's Heart Transplant Survivor) and Mr Thavanthri (NHC's Lung Transplant Survivor) will be at Changi General Hospital (CGH) to rally donors to make contributions. Mr Cheong and Mr Selamat will also be leading by example by taking part in the mass walk-a-jog on 10 July. For 68-year-old Mr Cheong, this will be his first walk-a-jog.

Members of the public can adopt a step by contributing a minimum $10 donation which will earn them a footprint each to write their well-wishes to the survivors. The footprints will be part of a larger montage displayed at the finishing location of the Relay on 10 July where President S R Nathan is the Guest of Honour. These donors may also participate in the walk-a-jog. Donations raised from "Adopt-a-Step" will go towards the President's Challenge 2005.

Apart from the total relay distance of 100km, the Health Relay 100 is also significant in commemorating the 100 year celebration of medical education in Singapore this year. The relay route will cover the locations of various healthcare institutions in Singapore.

Organised by a committee headed by Dr See Hung Foo, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery and Deputy Chairman, Medical Board, CGH, with members from various SingHealth institutions, the overnight relay will see healthcare workers from both the public and private sector unite for a good cause. There will be at least 15 relay teams of teams of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other administrative staff from various healthcare institutions, staff from the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board. This year, friends from the Singapore Traffic Police will be also be fielding a relay team. Each relay team will have at least 10 to 15 runners, covering distances of 8 to 15km.

The SingHealth Committee has organised a number of fund-raising activities to garner sponsorships and donations for all the beneficiaries of the President’s Challenge. These activities are:-

1. Pledge care donation drive involving all 12,000 SingHealth staff, as well as organisations like Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital, National Skin Centre, Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Board and St Andrew’s Community Hospital.

2. A public fund-raising event, "Adopt a Step", at SingHealth's 3 hospitals, 5 National Centres and 9 SingHealth Polyclinics from 15 to 17 June 2005.

   This unique initiative calls for the public to support disease survivors who wish to participate in the "Walk-A-Jog with Survivors" on 10 July. Members of the public can do so by "adopting a step" through minimum cash donations of $10 each. These donors will each be given a "footprint" to pen their well-wishes. All the footprints will be part of a larger collage to be displayed at the finishing location on 10 July.

   "Adopt-A-Step" booths are set up at all SingHealth institutions to welcome any generous donations and contributions from the public and visitors. Among the SingHealth members, SGH is launching its "Adopt-A-Step" campaign on 22 to 24 June 05.

3. Direct monetary contributions from corporate organisations and individual donors