A VERY SPECIAL WALK INDEED! Report by Ms Jacquelyn Ang, ARC Management Committee Member

On a bright sunny Sunday morning on 9th July 2005, a great crowd of 800 participants turned up at the usually serene Marina City Park A for A VERY SPECIAL WALK, jointly organized by Gryphons Alumni (ex scouts from Raffles Institution), Rainbow Centre and Pathlight School. This is a special fund raising event for 2 purposes:

• to set up Enterprise Learning Centres to prepare teenage students for future employment at Pathlight School

• provide training for pre-schoolers and teachers in mainstream kindergartens by

Rainbow Centre Eager and excited participants came as early as 7.30am, many of whom took the free shuttle bus service from Marina South MRT station to Car Park A. Early participants were entertained with song dedications which came in fierce and fast from numerous well wishers.

At the Pasar Pagi food stalls run by ARC staff and volunteers, sale were brisk as participants brought their breakfast, ranging from buns, pastries, baos, apples, biscuits and even local favourites like bean curd, cin-cao and soya bean drinks. We even have the latest soya ice-cream from Mr Bean to keep everyone cool. Just the stalls alone, it brought in more than $2,500 to add to our fundraising efforts. Most of the items on sale were generously provided free of charge by corporate donors.

Our MC for the day, Mr Viswa Sadasivan was warming up the crowd and getting everyone excited with his sharp wit and entertaining banter. Upon the arrival of our guest of honour Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence, at 8:30am, the organizing chairman COL (NS) Sadanand Varma, and other committee members were there to receive him.

In their speeches, both COL (NS) Varma and Dr Ng were very pleased to welcome so many walkers. In Dr Ng’s speech, he affirmed that “children with special needs are as much a part of our society as other children. A community-wide effort on the part of their families, school, civic-minded corporations and the general public is needed to ensure their integration into society.” He went on to elaborate the funding and programs that have been put in place to ensure that this comes true for children with special needs in Singapore. A warming up session was up next, led by Brian Ravi (Pathlight School’s soccer coach) and the SAF Cheerleaders. Everyone, the young and not-so-young …including Dr Ng, joined in stretching their muscles to put them into the right mood for the walk.

With a round of adrenalin-pumping rah-rah from the SAF Cheerleaders to signify the starting of the walk, Dr Ng flagged off by sound the air-horn…and the walk has begun! Along the 2km scenic walk, participants were greeting at 2 points of the route by helpful staff from Starbucks with coffee, tea and chocolate drinks. This really was quite unusual and it provided some much-needed caffeine boost for many.

Once all walkers have returned to the gathering point, the second part of the program kicked off, starting with a bang from the magnificent and energetic cheerleading

performance by the sexy members from SAF Football Fan Club. They got the crowd ahh-ing and ooh-ing with their exhilarating moves... human pyramids, young ladies in colourful sexy outfit thrown up high into the air and of course, those perfectly synchronized cool moves.

Next, was a skit by students and teachers from Rainbow Centre - A “Pretty woman”. It was well appreciated by the audience with the brave efforts put in by the children.

The “Grease Lightning” dance by Pathlight School, brought back good old memories for many of those born a few decades ago. Dr Ng and COL (NS) Varma was very sporting to accept the invitation to join in the dance on stage. Dancing to the tune of “Let’s go together” from the movie Grease! it had our 2 VIPs on stage and the audience trying their best to keep up with the fast and challenging dance steps. It was really fun and good try by all!!!

Dr Ng gave away tokens of appreciation to the main sponsor, Cargill Singapore, and other major corporate sponsors. Tokens of appreciation were also given to parties who have helped put in tremendous efforts that contributed to the success of the walk, especially 01 Raffles Scouts Group. They have not only been instrumental to helping to organize the event, many of the boys had stayed overnight and were working non-stop since 6am that morning to provide the much-needed muscle power and to ensure the whole event was executed beautifully. To end off the event, we had our own Pathlight Artist, Nicolas Toi presenting one of his drawings as a memento to Dr Ng.

It was really a morning well spent. Many walkers continued to stay on to enjoy some more delicious food and to catch up with each other at this leisurely and fun event.

Thanks to Dr. Ng, Gryphons Alumni, donors and walkers who made this event possible. Gross takings from the Walk amounted to $278,540.91. Out of this, half will go to the setting up of Pathlight Café and the other half to the PRiEP program of Rainbow Centre. A very commendable amount indeed!!

We would like to take this opportunity the following individuals and corporations that have helped made this event successful in one way or another. Ab Razak bin Chanbasha Adam Gilmour Aileen Tan Mee Ling Amos International Pte Ltd Andrew Chapman Ang Hwee Koon Ang Peng Seng Ann Elizabeth Wee Annie Tan Boon Cheng Anthony Huray Anthony Lee Asad J Ascott International Management (2001) Pte Ltd Bernard Chew Candid Water Cooler Pte Ltd Cargill Singapore Celcum Pte Ltd Chan Hee Yuen Chan Yi Chian

Quak Cherk Min Radix Energy (S) Pte Ltd Rainbow Link 01 Raffles Scout Group Raffles Institution Boarding School Rabindra Nath Pandey Randolph Khoo Richard Hennity Robert Bing Kosan Robert Koh Rohan Kamis Roland Chan Roland Foo Hee Wan Ronald Howe Rosa Tan Kee Hoong Ross Forde Hamou-Jennings Rumuluammah d/o P Narsaiah RI United Bus Service SAF Football Fan Club Cheerleaders SembCorp Parks Holdings Ltd

Cheam Hing Lee Cheng Heng Yu Chew Bee Hwa Chew Ming Sheong Chew Teck Soon Chey Chor Wai Chia Choon Kiat Chia Hng Ju Chia Loy Wah Chia Jit Imm, Winnie Chiltern House Children & Babies Surgery Chin Yui Sin Chng Chee Kiong Chng Poh Hwa Christina Fang Christine Tong Hwee Kheng Choo Boon Tiong Chua Chian Wee Chua Eu Tiong Chua Koon Kiong Chua Teik Eng Citra Sari Wellness Pte Ltd Clifford King Mun Cheoh Corrina Chin Creative Eateries Pte Ltd Cynthia Teong Boey Choo Denise Phua Lay Peng DFS Venture Singapore (Pte) Ltd Dina Abastillas Doreen Yip Durai Singam Electric Co Pte Ltd Energy Market Company Pte Ltd Eric Lim Ser Hiong EK Ang Trading & Transport Eu Pui Wai Fabian Tan Faridah Eryani Pairin Fiona McDonald Fiona Pak Bee Choo Foo Check Woei Foo May Ling Francis Heng Frank Benko Friends of Autism Resource Centre Friends of St Margaret’s Schools Gaylin International Pte Ltd Genencor International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Ginga Petroleum (S) Pte Ltd Goh Boon Lan

SembCorp Parks Management Pte Ltd Senoko Power Ltd Singapore Red Cross Starbucks Coffee S’pore Pte Ltd StarHub Ltd Song Kee Stationery Co. Sun Sing Neosigns & Electric Co Pte Ltd Suntech Investment Pte Ltd Super Bean International Pte Ltd S Puhaindran Samuel B Sarah Maverinse Seah Choo Meng Seah Ya Leng See Kiak Beng Seow Siew Ngoh Sherene Sng Simon Cooper Soh Kok Leong Soong Hee Lin Stephen Wong Sunny Kang Sunny Lam Tan Aik Kim Tan Bee Lian Tan Bee Nah Tan Boon Chok Tan Chuan Heng Tan Ee Lee Tan Eng Tan Eng Seong Tan Kai Chah, Caesarian Tan Lye Hiang Tan Lye Teck Tan Mon Ching Tan Mui Choo @Maggie Tan Tan Peh Chin Geoffrey Tan Soon Tew Tan Wee Seng Tan Yang Chen Tan Yang Sock Tan Yen-Fei Leona Tan Yew Siang Tang Hock Guan Tang Tuck Kim Teh Keng Hup Teo Teong Ho Teo Yok Foo Tham Kui Seng Tham See Thong Tham Tuck Seng

Goh Chin Kwee Goh Geok Tee Goh Hwe Joo Goh Jee Sien Goh Mee See Goh Siok Leng Goh Sok Keow Goh Thien Phong Goo Kuo Ming Gordon Choi Pui Chau Han May Yin Hester Chew Ho Bee Developments Pte Ltd Ho Kok Fei Hong Leong Foundation HTL International Ltd Huang Yuen Chun Hui Hoi Po Irawan Prakoso Ivy Ong Bing Wah Jane Ang Guay Peng Jane Soh Jasmine Chng Jay Lim Joel Lee Chay Giam John Pretorius Joyce Koh Kah Motor Sdn Bhd Kan Yut Keong Keeavan E Kesslers Conceicao Khong Guan Biscuits Factory (S) Pte Ltd Khoo Kay Wee Ko Chee Wah Koh Hwee Ai Koh Pat Tin Koh Sin Yuet Koh Soo How Koh Wan Lee Lai Kuen Lai Yet Hin Lau Eng Beng Lau Wing Tat Lawrence Bay Siow How Lee Chor Cheng Lee Khai Fatt Lee Kim Shin Lee May Yen Lee Tiong Peng Lee Xin Yi Leong Chiu Ming

Thia Teng Swan The KIDZ Clinic Theatrical Stage Specialist Pte Ltd Thow Yen Foodstuff Pte Ltd Todd Schofield Toh Heng Wee Toh Hong Lee Toh Kah Hock Voilet Chow Vivian Ang Hui Ming Wee Tee Keng, Stephen Wendy Lau Peek Ying Weng Hock Hardware Pte Ltd Wheels for Fun Pte Ltd Wong Huat Sern Wong Chin Ngia, Damian Wong Chung Jeu Wong Kit Yee Wong Liang Seng Wong San Chin Woo Bih Li Yap Choo Lim Yeo Hwee Bin Yew Teng Leong Young Kuan Sing Yum Shoen Yih … and all others who have contributed generously to add colours to the lives of our children.

Leong Geok Hoon Leong Kwok Tho Leong See Odd Leong Yit Siong Liau Meng Siong Lim Chap Huat Lim Chuan Hoo Lim Ean Keat Lim June Kiat Lim Kian Guan Lim Leong Guan Lim Mui Huang Lim Sam Sam Lim Seow Chiang Lim Sik Tin Lim Soo Peng Lim Thiam Kheng Lim Wei Shi Lisa Denvir Lo Wei Min Loh Hwui Shian Loh Wai Mooi Loo Kwai Chee Low Sin Leng Lucien Wong Ma Kha Who Magdelene Yeow Margaret Lee Margie Pagdanganan Malaysian Dairies Industries Pte Ltd Michael Ho Chin Hern Michael S F Liew Michael Young Mr Bean Mohan Alexander Mok Kwong Wah Moti Vaswai National Electricity Market of Singapore Nestle Singapore (Pte) Ltd Ngoi Surgery Pte Ltd Ng Beng Hong Ng Chee Yong Ng Cher Yan Ng Hwee Na Ng Peng Yew Ng Siam Khui Ng Tong Hai Ngoh Shay Piao Ohri Devinder Ong Chin Guan Ong Siong Mee

Ong Teck Kiat Onn Chong Kai Ooi Chee Ker Parents & Staff of Rainbow Centre Parents & Staff of Pathlight School Pang Tow Chiang Pang Weng Sun Paramita Bandara Paul Lawrence Payroll Express Pte Ltd Peter Lee Pius Chong Poon Kit Meng Pre-School by the Park Prema d/o K Subramaniam Prima Food Pte Ltd Note: This list is accurate as of the time of printing. We apologize for any inadvertent omissions.