By Eugene Koh, Content Contributor
Three friends embark on an island-round cycle to raise funds for Club Rainbow Singapore (CRS) beneficiaries suffering from major chronic and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Last Christmas, the trio gave not only their hearts but also their determination and sweat – lots of it. Workmates turned friends; Alan, Lawrence, and James were once colleagues in the same company. After the three parted ways, they remained in contact via social media. Unbeknownst to them, the three would reunite nearly ten years later to work together once again – to raise funds for the families of children who suffer from major chronic and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
“We learned of each other’s interests in cycling through our social media posts, where we post about our cycling trips with our friends. Thus, we thought that it would be nice to arrange a casual ride to catch up.” Says Alan, 42.
Realising that they were all intermediate cyclists, the trio decided to take it up a notch and challenged themselves to complete a 170 kilometres long cycle around the perimeter of Singapore instead, where they aimed to complete the journey within a night.
In the spirit of giving back during the festive period, the trio wanted to make their effort worthwhile and initiated a fundraising campaign. After learning from an ex-colleague whose son is a direct beneficiary of CRS, Alan decided that the money raised would be donated to improve the lives of the CRS beneficiaries. Thus, "For the Greater Good" was born, where they would ride for leisure and a purpose.
“There is always a story behind every face. Good or Bad. What you see is what others allow you to see. There is always someone suffering in silence or not knowing what can be done to improve their circumstances. I understand the challenges families have to go through facing problems with money, and I want to change that.” He says.
Sharing the fundraising details all over social media and chat groups, the trio hoped to get as many donors as possible, no matter the donation amount. “We believe that giving back to society is something people with normal lives can do and that every small effort can transform frowns into smiles.” Says Alan.
Training 30 to 40 kilometres once or twice a week on their own, the cyclists conditioned themselves to strive towards their limits. Increasing intensity each time by increasing speed and shortening the time taken per ride. “Night rides are more bearable as we can avoid the heat from the sun, but we face other challenges such as strong and chilly winds, especially along Changi Coastal Road. This can cause shortness of breath and muscle cramps,” says Alan. Moreover, dimly led roads along farm ways and park connectors can also be dangerous due to decreased visibility.
At the end of their journey, the group raised a total of S$4,458 from 57 donors. Receiving support from their friends and family, the trio hopes to make this an annual challenge. “Happiness is infectious on its own; good things always happen after,” Alan added.
Just like a set of bicycle wheels, great things always come in pairs. Your efforts will be doubled as part of the Fortitude Budget, where the government is matching donations to charities dollar-for-dollar till 31 March 2022.
Do contact us at crscpm@clubrainbow.org, and we can guide you along to your first online campaign.
Eugene Koh
A social butterfly at heart, Eugene enjoys engaging with the people around him and building meaningful connections. He aspires to use his gift to engage and influence mass markets and make an impactful change in society.
When not mugging for his exams or fulfilling his National service duties, you can find him lurking around the pantry or queuing for bubble tea.