22 August 2007
Healthcare workers "running on the job" for a good cause
- SingHealth and KKH organise Healthcare Charity Run in support of President's Challenge 2007

Singapore, 22 August 2007 - Imagine the streets of Singapore lined with doctors in surgical scrubs with a stethoscope around their necks, nurses in pinafores holding a syringe and a thermometer, and pharmacists wearing their lab coats and carrying pill boxes. They are joined by “patients” trotting along on crutches or in wheelchairs, and administrators in ties gripping their laptops and files.

This Sunday, healthcare professionals will combine their everyday work attire with running gear like sports shoes, shorts and vests, and run along a 10km route – all in the name of charity.

Healthcare Charity Run – "Running On The Job"
More than 1,500 runners, hailing from various organisations in Singapore’s healthcare community, will participate in the Healthcare Charity Run on Sunday, 26 August. Aptly themed “Running On The Job” and likely the first of its kind in Singapore, the race challenges healthcare professionals to run in their daily work attire or one that reflects their job and profession. Best-dressed “runners on the job” stand to win prizes.

The event is co-organised by Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) and its member institution KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) in support of President’s Challenge, an annual charity campaign.

The first 8km leg of the run will begin at KKH, and will be followed by a 2km Family Fun Mass Walk-A-Jog starting at Novena, to be led by Minister for Health, Mr Khaw Boon Wan. He will be joined by Ms Yong Ying-I, Permanent Secretary (Health), as well as CEOs and healthcare workers from participating healthcare organisations and their family members.

Greeting all runners at the finishing point at KKH will be Guest-of-Honour, President S R Nathan. The event culminates in the festivities at the KKH Family Carnival, where all participants and their families can look forward to special performances by the beneficiaries of President’s Challenge 2007, exciting game and food stalls, as well as face painting and airbrush tattoos. 

"The overnight Health Relay that SingHealth organised since 2004 had become a signature event for the healthcare sector. This year, we want to do something different, so we challenge our staff and partners to run in their work attire, to show that the usually serious healthcare professionals can be fun too. The idea arose from a brainstorming session within the organising committee, which is made up of different healthcare professions in KKH," said Dr Arjandas Mahadev, Chairman of the Healthcare Charity Run organising committee, who is also a Consultant in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at KKH.

Pledge card fundraising drive and community outreach activities
Leading up to the Healthcare Charity Run, SingHealth has raised funds through pledge cards and donations from its 14,000 staff as well as other generous individuals and corporations. So far, it has raised more than $200,000 for the 32 beneficiaries of President’s Challenge 2007, and donations are still streaming in.

The cheque for the total funds raised will be presented to President Nathan at the carnival.

Heeding President Nathan’s call to go beyond fundraising and reach out to touch lives, KKH organised a series of community outreach initiatives for the less fortunate in the last two months. These include eye and general health screening for Canossaville Children’s Home, Down Syndrome Association, and AWWA Senior Activity Centre. Other institutions of SingHealth, like Singapore General Hospital and Singapore National Eye Centre, also volunteered time and effort at Lions Befriender Neighbourhood Link (Mei Ling branch) to conduct eye screening and educational talk on how to keep a home elderly friendly.

SingHealth has been an active supporter of President’s Challenge, as a means of serving the community and reaching out to the needy in Singapore. Over the last three years, the healthcare group has raised more than $850,000.

"SingHealth is part of this worthy cause for the fourth year now. We are pleased that through organising this Healthcare Charity Run, we are able to gather and rally our staff and partners in the healthcare community for this combined effort. All these are done with the hope that we will make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate in Singapore," said Professor Tan Ser Kiat, SingHealth’s Group Chief Executive Officer.  

For media enquiries and interviews, please contact: 

Ms Ong Shao Ying

Corporate Communications

Singapore Health Services

DID:        6557 4913

Email:      ong.shao.ying@singhealth.com.sg

About Singapore Health Services (SingHealth)

SingHealth is the largest healthcare group in Singapore, offering a complete range of multi-disciplinary and integrated medical care. The group consists of 3 Hospitals, 5 National Specialty Centres, and a network of 9 polyclinics. We have a faculty of internationally qualified medical specialists and are also well equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment medical technology. We are dedicated to providing quality healthcare that is affordable and accessible to our patients. Through clinical excellence, commitment, and collaboration, we aim to be the trusted leader in healthcare for our patients, partners, staff and the community.

Members of the SingHealth group:

Hospitals:

Changi General Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Singapore General Hospital

National Specialty Centres:

National Cancer Centre, National Dental Centre, National Heart Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, and Singapore National Eye Centre

SingHealth Polyclinics:

Bedok, Bukit Merah, Geylang, Marine Parade, Outram, Pasir Ris, Queenstown, Sengkang and Tampines