Local Running Community with Big Hearts

Speaking with Mr Pang Wee Khai, Founder of Enjoy Your Run, we learnt why and how Wee Khai (WK) supports Club Rainbow (Singapore) (CRS).  

CRS: How did the group *Enjoy Your Run* come about?

EYR Team at East Coast Park

WK: Enjoy Your Run (EYR) came about during COVID-19 and the relaxation of the control measures. There was also generally more interest in fitness and wellness. A group of friends with some running background came together and decided that it was perhaps more enjoyable to exercise as a group for motivation because running at times requires tremendous discipline to follow through. So that was how we started to gather in small groups in July 2021, on a monthly basis at East Coast Park. It gradually became a weekly gathering for the passionate runners in the group.

Over time, EYR grew organically both in number of active members and the fitness goals achieved. Besides improving general health, several runners smashed their limitations and set new personal records for running - from middle distances to ultra-marathons. What seemed impossible was made a reality due to the strong bonding and teamwork at EYR, both on and off the running course.

CRS: Why have you decided to raise funds for the children of Club Rainbow, and is there any meaning behind the campaign title "Let the children run"?

EYR founder, Pang Wee Khai

WK: I came across Club Rainbow at NUH when my firstborn was born with a genetic condition many years ago. Although we did not engage their services at that time, we came to know about the existence of such charitable organisations, which provide support to families whose children suffer from chronic illnesses. Due to personal experience, it was meaningful to be able to raise funds for an organisation close to our hearts. In fact, there were two online campaigns done previously before the first group effort in 2022 ->

https://www.giving.sg/campaigns/raceto40-marathon-club-rainbow
https://www.giving.sg/campaigns/bryceton-goes-for-10k

Campaign: EYR 2023

http://Give.asia/EYR2023

CRS: Have your group encountered any challenges in your fundraising journey and how did you overcome those challenges?

WK: Generally, friends are supportive of our collective effort. Of course, there are also many other fundraising campaigns out there. It is more about creating awareness and being sincere about what and why we do it.

In terms of challenges, it is inevitable that injuries may happen in the course of getting stronger and fitter. Like all dream journeys, we may face unforeseen circumstances on the road to better health, especially because many teammates are busy working parents. We learn to be patient and share our burdens with each other. In comparison, the children and families of Club Rainbow go through much tougher challenges, which few people can fully comprehend -- we keep this awareness close to our hearts as we fundraise for their cause. 

CRS: How do you shout out for your campaign?

WK: We have been periodically creating awareness on our social media whenever the situation allows. It was also great that we had help with dollar-for-dollar matching by Tote Board, which gives friends more reasons to support our effort.

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Inspired by Wee Khai’s initiative? You can start your fundraising journey with us today!

• For the least effort in managing initiatives and maximum fun
  Fundraise through Ride and Ralk for Rainbows 2023

• Grow the community with maximum flexibility
  Start your own fundraising initiative like Wee Khai, email contact@clubrainbow.org for more details.

Dreaming The Future!

1, 2, 3! and we are in 2023!

In a blink of an eye, we have concluded our 30th-anniversary celebrations with three cheers! Hooray!

Looking back over three decades, we have served numerous children with chronic illnesses and their families. Some of who have made a tremendous breakthrough and become independent, active contributors to the community whilst co-existing with lifelong illnesses. Others have gone before us, having loved ones work through grief and loss workshops with the support of Club Rainbow’s dedicated team of social workers.

From caring for the beneficiaries’ well-being and basic needs to ensuring the deliverance of relevant services based on curated individualised care plans, we see harmonious collaboration between caregivers, social workers and supporting partners. Last year, we welcomed the opening of Sandbox where the heart of creativity, confidence and talents are discovered and nurtured through various programmes held at the centre. Believing in equal opportunities for beneficiaries with medical conditions or developmental issues, the launch of the early childhood programme prepares children for school in areas like reading, writing, etc. The programme embodies our values of respect and resilience, providing a sense of belonging for the beneficiaries all while preparing the children for compulsory education. It ran its first intake in January 2022 and is in its 3rd run this year.

Before the yearend, we introduced a new 3-part series programme under Vocational Development, Bake under the Rainbow. The new initiative covered the basics from Food Safety, Baking sessions to the Bake Sale. The first run of the bake sale was in conjunction with Ride For Rainbows 2022 and the 30th Anniversary Birthday Bash at the Marina Barrage.

Truly this is the ecosystem we want for the children and their families. Dreaming the future with a network of support from the community who comes together as donors, volunteers, partners and corporate to pull resources from various aspects to engage with the beneficiaries and their families.

We have come this far, so what’s next?

Look out for

• New charity merchandise coming in Q2 2023!
• Pre-order of patisserie by our very own caregivers.
• More events coming back, and more volunteer opportunities!
• And what is #CRSUnited? Find out in our next news scoop!

To support our initiatives, begin your journey with us by contacting us via contact@clubrainbow.org.

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Choose to be Happy!

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”

Everybody tends to say this to someone having a wrong time, but what does happy mean? Is it that easy to be satisfied?

The word happy is generally defined as a feeling of pleasure or contentment. Such feelings could arise from something as simple as eating something delicious or seeing something beautiful; and can be immediately felt by a child who just got a new toy.

So, what do we do when we are having a bad day and finding it challenging to feel happy? Although we are told that it is fine to embrace our negative feelings, we could always go a step further by embracing those bad feelings and then taking action to exchange them for more positive thoughts. A bad day is no reason to ignore all other good parts of life. Many studies have linked happiness to health as a good mood helps us smile more, sleep better, and feel more energetic. 

One easy way to feel pleasure and contentment is to be thankful. I like to keep a gratitude journal to remind myself of things I am grateful for throughout the day. Small mundane things, like the bus arriving on time or remembering to bring an umbrella on a rainy day. By doing so, you will likely realise that you are luckier than you think. I also know someone who practices ‘gratitude hour’ where he spends an hour every Friday sending emails thanking people who helped him throughout the week.

Most people have also heard of the adage – It’s better to give than to receive. While rewarding ourselves, we must also remember that we are all capable of spreading happiness by building a more compassionate world and not forgetting the needy. You could start by gifting to those who need it or volunteering your time, as experiences provide a higher level of happiness than material items.

If there is one particular day each year where we should put in extra effort to purge all negative emotions from our system, that would be 20 March, also known as the International Day of Happiness. First celebrated on 20 March 2013, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Happiness to make people worldwide realise the importance of happiness in their lives. Building on the idea, the United Nations also launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals aiming to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet to make people’s lives happier. (More information can be found here: https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals)

Here at Club Rainbow, we hope that our beneficiaries can live as happily as possible despite the challenges they face in their lives. In conjunction with this year’s International Day of Happiness, we would appreciate your support for our efforts to make this world a better place for children in Singapore living with chronic illnesses. Actions matter, and you can make happiness a choice every day!

Written by: Tang Su Yen
Edited by: Club Rainbow (Singapore)

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We welcome volunteers to support our beneficiaries and passionate individuals who like to kickstart creative fundraising initiatives. Email us at crscpm@clubrainbow.org to start your journey with us today! Other ways you can be part of - https://www.clubrainbow.org/take-action.

A year of rainbows for our little ones with Micron Foundation

As part of their Diversity and Inclusion efforts, Micron Foundation has adopted Club Rainbow (Singapore) [CRS] as one of the charity organisations to give back to community this year.  

An alignment in vision between Micron Foundation and CRS on enriching the community sees Micron supporting our mission of empowering families with children having chronic illnesses and special needs, to provide them an enriched and quality life. Teaming up with CRS Community Partnership, Micron was able to reach out to majority of our beneficiaries through the various events such as Celebrating Heroes in September and third edition of the upcoming Dreamseeds Arts Fest in November by offering many volunteer hands, warm hearts and big smiles.    

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Micron Technology Inc., where hundreds of employees were invited to enjoy a night of celebration with the company in Sentosa. As employees filled up the foyer outside of the ballroom, they were invited to pen their well wishes for the company on pieces of coloured papers. These were then used to form a rainbow, inspired and in recognition of us, Club Rainbow (Singapore) their adopted charity, along with a donation drive.

One other activity of Micron’s anniversary celebration was extending invitations to 42 of our beneficiaries and their families to enjoy an evening at the Universal Studios with them.

We are very grateful and blessed to have Micron partnering with us, in choosing to support our little ones. Their valuable contributions to our organisation through volunteering efforts and monetary donation truly helped in many ways.