Running for a Cause - NTUC Income RUN 350 & Unlabelled Run

Some runs are unnecessary, some are for a reason. Glad to run in 2 races in the past one week, run for a greener future (NTUC Income RUN 350) and for the ex-offenders (Unlabelled Run).

NTUC Income RUN 350

When I told a few friends that I was running the 350 Run, their natural response was “You mean the 360 Run, is it?”. I have to admit, when I first heard about the run, I did thought the organizer wrote wrongly too. 350 means nothing but 360 is like a full circle (more meaningful). That is when I realized how uninformed I was.

350 refers to the recommended parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere that scientists believe is de rigueur for the Earth’s sustainability as we know it. Today, this number is around 400ppm. We have hit a climate milestone, as this is the first time in 800,000 years that the level hits 400ppm.

NTUC Income RUN 350, organized by Young NTUC is in support of 350.org – an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis – the solutions that science and justice demands.

This is the first run that I have participated that provides busing services (for $6/pax) from various locations all around the island to bring us to the race venue. That’s nice.

Running from F1 Pit Building, means the scene will be fantastic.

With my running shifu, Ben Ang, before the race. I didn’t realized that we are both quite tanned.

Mandatory photo after a race, with our hard earned medal and banana.

 

Praise God, I managed to clock 62mins for the 10km run, my personal best since I started to run this year.

 

Unlabelled Run 2016

This run has been postponed once last year due to haze. Back then I was not into running yet, so I was not so keen to run in the race at all, plus paying to run has never been part of my belief. But when the race was rescheduled to this April and when brother Johnny from The New Charis Mission came to share about how this unlabelled run will be a means of showing our support to the ex-offenders, I was totally bought it.

The Unlabelled Run is organized by The New Charis Mission (TNCM), a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness of their work informed by the values of Hope and Change. With a vision to bring new hope and opportunities to those in despair and neglect, TNCM seeks to enable the disenfranchised through targeted programmes, tools and refuge.

This run was also special because this is the first time I am joined by my CG members for a run. Can you see our excitement but also tired face? 630am at East Coast is not easy.

Another first is my old friend Jonathan (extreme left) who came and joined me after hearing I am participating in this race. He has not been running for almost 4-5 years and this is the first race. Then there is George (middle guy) who has not been running in a race for more than 20 years! And he sportingly signed up with me to run. Salute!
FYI, I am the youngest among the three, I’m 42 =)

Another photo right at the starting line.

We did it! Happy for Jon and George to complete the 5km race without any major problem.

All 8 runners for the day.

And the supporters aka wife & family.

Romancing Kless

Riding on the shoulders of the latest initiative by NTUC U Family, Kless and I had a chance to leave the girls at home and spent a night around the beautiful Marina Bay Waterfront area.

Honestly, whenever such family/couple events were held, I started off with a sceptical attitude that the attendance will be low. I thought why would couples come out on a Saturday evening to mingle with the crowd? Isn’t it better to just stay at home or go out on a quiet date? I was so wrong and so pleasantly surprised that Singaporeans are not that ‘cold’ after all. We do know how to interact with one another and enjoy a big gathering like this. Claps for the organisers for staging this event and many more to come I believe.

  

Especially love how this couple shared a moment to create something beautiful and special. Love the smile on the husband’s face.

Stage games and performances liven up the event, and gave many couples a chance to have some fun and opportunities to win some prizes.

Couples doing limbo rock and kiss at the same time. Challenging! Big claps for all the sporting couples!

 

Various booths were set up for more opportunities for everyone to just enjoy the evening and make it memorable. Like this photo booth set up by some professional photographers. Nice idea!

One of the special highlight of the evening was the mass dance session. Professional dancers getting ready to teach us the moves.

  

And this is how we danced!

Just as I was thinking would any guy be brave enough to propose on such a day and in front of such a huge crowd, I was proven wrong by this super amazing guy. His courage and love has to be recorded as spectacular and wonderful. I’m sure the lady will be so blessed to marry such a man.

  

Touching!

Thank God for the excellent weather, we had a great and romantic time together.

Love to date this beautiful girl! Love you!

Date Your Partner @ Romancing U

Many of us are so busy working that we seldom have time for the special one who matters more than anything. This coming April 19 organised by NTUC – U Family, Romancing U is back to help couples to reconnect with their partners, renew the passion and relive their blissful courting days.

Exciting programmes and events are prepared for everyone to enjoy a romantic night by the scenic Marina Bay Waterfront. There will be a romantic movie screening under the stars with free flow of Nescafe coffee and snacks!

Event Highlights
Cruise along the Singapore River in a Love Boat
Live performance of songs and ballads by local acoustic band, Paraphase
Dance away to the tunes of beautiful love songs led by professional instructors
Have your couple shots taken at the unique Photo Studio booths
Be crowned the Most Charming Couple and The Best Dance Chemistry Couple to win attractive prizes worth S$3,500

Book early to avoid disappointment. Create another romantic memory with your partner!

Date: 19 April 2014 (Saturday)
Time: 6pm to 10pm (Registration starts at 5pm)
Venue: The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Ticket Fees: $15 per couple (NTUC member); $30 per couple (Public)

NTUC - A Whimsical U Picnic

A champion for working people to have strong and happy families.

Last year we missed the inaugural U Picnic due to an overseas trip, so this year when NTUC gave us a second chance to be involved, we grabbed it with much delight and gratitude. This year’s U Picnic was held at West Coast Park and there were quite a few things in line for everyone.

Seriously, I did not know what to expect. I mean I have been to West Coast Park before but the girls only stayed at the playground area and the nearby McDonald’s outlet. I cannot imagine how can hundreds of families gather at such a place to have a mass picnic together. This is how we did it, check the short clip below to witness probably one of the largest family picnic in Singapore with about 6,000 participants.

The registration was smooth and fast, thanks to the thoughtful organizers who really went the extra mile for the families.

Each family gets a picnic basket with lots of goodies like chips, nuts, paper fan, water, sweets, colouring papers, etc. Definitely worth it even if you have to pay $40 per ticket which admits 5 people.

As with previous year, the picnic aims to gather families for an evening of fun-filled activities. The key objectives are to advocate the building of strong happy families by championing work-life harmony.

This is especially true and important to our personal family. Kless and I believe that family bonding is built through time. Which is why we are always very grateful for organizers who invites us to attend events with the kids, this is our way of building that precious parent-child relationship with our two girls and at the same time introduce new things to them.

Just like this family picnic, we didn’t spend too much time queuing up for the free goodies like popcorn, candy floss, etc. What we did was just walking around the huge field, allowing the girls to do some handy-craft and simply enjoying a relax evening together.

 

  

The whimsical ladies taking a rest. They indeed garnered quite a huge following when in action.

There was also stage performance by one of the local band, Afterhours.

Stalls were set up for the kids like this candy stall which successfully took the girls’ attention away from their daddy.

The girls managed to play a game of blindfold, Joey gave the instructions to Jayne and helped Jayne find the key to save Daddy who is locked up a cage.

Joey checking with Jayne to ensure she knows the right and left directions correctly. Cute!

And both of them succeeded in their task. Papa is rescued. Yea!

 

We stayed till late in the night and watched the beautiful sunset together.

I love my family, my wife and 2 girls. Family time is LOVE.