Business Times
19 August 2015
Cancer survivor marks SG50 with 50-hour hand-cycle charity ride
William Tan aims to raise S$50,000 for needy local and Thai children
IN commemoration of Singapore's 50th year of independence, Stage 4 leukaemia survivor William Tan will hand-cycle and ferry a child in an attached chariot for 50 hours continuously from 3pm on Aug 28 to 5pm on Aug 30 at Temasek Junior College in Bedok.
At the event, named 50/50@TJC, students from 50 schools including his alma mater Raffles Institution will run alongside Dr Tan, in an effort to raise S$50,000 to help needy children.
Dr Tan, 58, is entering his sixth year of survival after his bone marrow transplant, and is an accomplished Paralympian and resident physician at National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Paralysed from the waist down since the age of 2 due to childhood poliomyelitis, Dr Tan has been championing the raising of funds for needy causes around the world since 1987.
Diagnosed with Stage 4 leukaemia in 2009 and told by doctors that he had only 9-12 months to live, Dr Tan nevertheless braved six months of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
He is now determined to "do more for the community" with his new lease of life, and will be supporting The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund; Care Corner Orphanage Foundation in Chiangmai, Thailand; and the Rotary Club of Bugis Junction's "Children in Need" Fund with his participation in 50/50@TJC.
The 50-hour challenge will be his toughest since his bone marrow transplant. In 2010, he took part in a 10-hour Cycle of Hope challenge.
Said organising chairman Paul Heng: "Much as SG50 is about Singapore and Singaporeans, reaching out and touching the needy from our neighbouring country, Thailand, demonstrates the strong ties Singapore has with fellow Asean countries. Moreover, one of the two founders of the 20-year-old Care Corner Orphanage in Chiangmai is a Singaporean."
Members of the public who would like to sit in the chariot or who are keen to accompany Dr Tan on his 50-hour toil are welcome to the Temasek Junior College track any time between 7am and 7pm during those 50 hours.
Please contact Paul for more information: paulhenght@gmail.com
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