Imagine yourself carrying 12kg of weight on your back, with nothing but rolling sand dunes to keep you company. The temperature is over 40 degrees centigrade, and you can’t even feel your sweat evaporating. Your lungs are parched, It’s too hot to breath, and the blisters on your feet are getting worse and worse as you trudge, slipping and struggling, up the next sandy djebel.
This is the Marathon Des Sables (Marathon of the Sands), a challenging multi-stage 250km ultramarathon held over 7 days, in one of the world’s most unforgettable and inhospitable landscapes, the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco. It is ranked by the Discovery Channel as the Toughest Foot Race in the world, and is one of the ultimate tests of endurance and discipline.
Runners must be self-sufficient and carry all their own food, cooking kit, clothing and sleeping bag for the chilly desert nights, first-aid and other emergency equipment, with only water provided at each checkpoint, and open-air tents for shelter at the end of each day.
Image courtesy of Marathon Des Sables
You're tougher than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can.
ONG TZE BOON
Despite a busy work schedule, Boon lives by the mantra of keeping fit and living healthy. He runs everyday, and has completed in excess of 7000km since August 2012. Boon also enjoys other adrenaline sports including alpineering, snowboarding, surfing and water skiing. He has recently completed the the World Marathon Challenge 2016 in January 2016.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
ONG YU-PHING
With the belief that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand, Phing participated in his first half-ironman triathlon in the late 1980's. Since then, he has enjoyed a plethora of activities, from hiking, martial arts and yoga, rock climbing and mountain biking, to participating in a powerlifting competition. He has recently completed the the World Marathon Challenge 2016 in January 2016.
OUR BENEFICIARIES
Club Rainbow (Singapore)
Club Rainbow was formed to support and empower children with various chronic and life-threatening illnesses by providing relevant and compassionate services in their journey towards an enriching life. The majority of children registered with Club rainbow are under these six specific illness groups:
- Blood Disorders
- Chronic Liver Disease/Biliary Atresia
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Very Low Birth Weight
- Neurological Disorders/Spinal Bifida
- Rare Genetic Disorders
Over $85,000 was raised for Club Rainbow (Singapore) for this Run with Your Heart initiative.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ASSOCIATION (ADA)
As the voice for people with dementia, as well as their loved ones, the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) aim.s to create a more dementia-inclusive society in Singapore. Grounded in the core values of compassion, commitment and integrity, ADA believes in increasing the quality of care for the elderly with dementia, through a unique approach of continued research, education and training for dementia treatment. ADA strives to inspire other organisations to empower people with dementia treatment and their families to become respected members in an inclusive society.
CAREGIVERS ALLIANCE LIMITED (CAL)
In Singapore, less than a third of those suffering from mental illnesses actually seek professional help. Instead, most opt to seek support from people closest to them – people who often end up being their primary caregivers. This is where Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) comes in. CAL is the sole professional non-profit organisation in Singapore, which caters specifically to providing training and professional support for caregivers, in order to enable them to better serve and care for people with mental illnesses. Through education, outreach and advocacy, CAL hopes to improve the lives of caregivers and families of people with mental illnesses.
SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE (SOS)
Often, those drowning in thoughts of suicide end up grappling to break the surface. It is not that they want to give up, but rather, they have no idea how to help themselves. To address this, Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) acts as sustainable help to them, tethered by its mission “To be an available lifeline to anyone in crisis”. It focuses on preventing suicide by providing an email befriending service and a 24-hour hotline. With its comprehensive approach, SOS ensures than anyone contemplating suicide would receive holistic support and care for as long as they need.
SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH (SAMH)
The Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) is an established mental health agency with nine centres which collectively provide a wide range of services for people with mental health conditions in Singapore. To promote acceptance and respect for those facing mental illnesses, SAMH’s services are centered on rehabilitation and reintegration, thereby engaging and empowering them to have a greater role in the community. SAMH also advocates for mental health in society, with their vision of ensuring mental wellness for all.
WE CARE COMMUNITY SERVICES
By acting as a safe haven for individuals suffering from all forms of addiction, be it the internet, drugs or eating disorders, WE CARE Community Services is able to help them in their recovery. It provides these individuals with opportunities to undergo counselling with skilled professionals, as well as chances to interact with others facing similar addictions. In addition, WE CARE facilitates outreach programmes and community education to raise awareness among the community. As a leading help and care centre, WE CARE advocates acceptance of people with addictions and transforms their lives.
* (A B Borinstein, “Public attitudes toward persons with mental illness”, Health Affairs, 11, no.3 (1992):186-196)