Wearing Two Hats with One Heart …

… for the less vulnerable in the community

By Joseph Lee, Content Contributor

It has no doubts that volunteering brings many benefits to people. For instance, it allows people to have a greater sense of fulfilment through the engagement with the community of the beneficiaries. Primarily, the less fortunate can receive help through these activities and a touch of kindness from volunteers. However, it is not always easy for people to embark on a volunteering journey due to their busy schedules and family commitments.

One person came under the spotlight. He is an associate director of a recruitment agency in Singapore. Despite having a hectic schedule, he wears many hats and regularly participates in volunteering activities to help less fortunate people. On top of that, he is also a philanthropist.

Who is he?

He is Kyle, a donor of Club Rainbow who also provides volunteer support to the beneficiaries and their families.

We often hear the saying; a journey starts with a single step. For Kyle, the journey began 20 years ago during a visit to an orphanage. The visit completely changed his life, although it was just a short interaction with the children in the orphanage. It made him realise how fortunate he was to grow up in a loving family and lead a regular life. It completely shifted his perspective and inspired him to support programs that provide social services to less fortunate children. Kyle prefers to provide support through volunteering. For instance, he joined his colleagues in a couple of volunteering activities in the last few years.

However, due to his work commitments, he cannot commit much of his time to it. Despite that, he ensures that he is still able to provide support through philanthropy. Kyle has always felt a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment through these efforts, knowing that his donations have gone to less fortunate children and families.

Being in the volunteering community for an extended period, Kyle has some tips to share with people who are getting started on the journey or juggling commitments. He shared that individuals should take ample time to research the various organisations, ensure that their vision is aligned and that the organisations are regulated. Furthermore, he also suggests that a small effort comes a long way, such as people can better the lives of local communities by patronising local elderly hawkers who are facing difficulties in this pandemic.

Apart from his personal efforts, the company that Kyle is working in, also has a vision to impact at least 500 million lives by the end of 2020. Being a recruitment agency, it not only helps people to seek employment but also work with partners to help low-income entities so that they can enjoy equal access to necessities, education, and employment needs. Before the pandemic, his employer also regularly works with a local charity to aid in the distributing and food preparation. To ensure that the charity can continue to be operational during the pandemic, the company held an in-house auction where more than 100 employees and Kyle himself bid on products and exclusive services donated by employees and other partners. The funds raised from the auction benefitted various charity organisations.

All in all, Kyle wishes to spread the act of volunteerism and philanthropy to everyone and hope that his legacy can be pass down to more people and his children, which in turn puts a smile on more people through these simple efforts.

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Kickstart a giving back journey to the vulnerable little ones in the community!

Your efforts will be doubled as part of the Fortitude Budget, the government is matching donations to charities dollar-for-dollar till 31 March 2022.

To better support NPOs and givers, there will be NO TRANSACTION FEES on Giving.sg till 31 March 2022. Therefore, 100% of your donations will go to Club Rainbow (Singapore).

Do contact us crscpm@clubrainbow.org and we can guide you along to begin your journey with us today.

Club Rainbow Education Awards 2020

Club Rainbow’s annual education awards seek to motivate and guide our beneficiaries on their journey towards an enriching life.

“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way” - George Evans.

Here at Club Rainbow, holistic education is important where we acknowledge the different learning capabilities of each child, coupled with their chronic illnesses. The children are encouraged and motivated to pursue their education regardless of the challenges they face and not be deterred.

We embrace the spirit of learning and determination of the beneficiaries from mainstream and special education schools by recognising their achievements through the Education Awards.

Mohamed Mohsen, 16, posing with his Achievement Award (SPED).

In 2020, a total of 74 children were rewarded for their efforts with our Education Awards. Mohamed Mohsen, 16, felt “happy” that he was “making (his) parents proud” when the Achievement Award (SPED) found its way into his hands.

With regards to how his mother has supported him on his journey to clinching this Award, she says, “(Independence) is our goal, so I’m trying to help him by not helping him and tell him to ask (only when) difficulty arises.”

As for the mother of Progress Award (Mainstream) recipient Jonathan Ng, 13, she “encouraged him in whatever he (did)” and struck a balance between work and play by “draw(ing) up a study plan together with him, and included some free time too”.

With Jonathan’s greatest source of motivation being the ability to buy science encyclopedias, he hopes to achieve the Spirit of Learning Award next. “With the money from the Award, I can buy those encyclopedias,” said Jonathan. 

When asked what her child can take away from this Award, Mohsen’s mother thinks that it would help Mohsen do his (utmost) best in everything he does, be it education or others, (while) regulating himself well and keeping humble and grounded all the time”.

Likewise, Jonathan’s mother hopes that this teaches Jonathan to be more hardworking in whatever he does and that practising more responsibility in his actions can achieve great results.

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To find out more on sponsoring Club Rainbow Education Awards, please email to crscpm@clubrainbow.org.

What is Biliary Atresia?

By Rachele Foo, Content Contributor

Jannah is seven this year, and just like every other seven-year-old, she started her first year of primary school. There, she makes friends, study hard and participates in physical activities. At home, however, her mother, Mdm Ida, is especially concerned about Jannah’s health. That is because Jannah was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia when she was just one month old and had to undergo a liver transplant at nine months.

What is Biliary Atresia?

Biliary Atresia is a condition where bile ducts become blocked. This results in the bile, which is needed to break down fats during digestion and carry away waste, being unable to leave the liver, damaging it. This condition only occurs in infants, and it is very rare, affecting 1 out of 20,000 infants. The treatment for this condition is the Kasai Procedure which involves removing the blocked bile ducts and connecting the small intestine to the liver. If it is not successful, a liver transplant is needed.

When Jannah was diagnosed with this condition, Mdm Ida felt completely at a loss. She had never expected that her daughter would be sick and had never even heard of or knew of anyone who suffered from this condition. The doctors told her that there were survivors, but she was not fully convinced, especially after seeing how the first operation, the Kasai Procedure, did not make her daughter better. She was also suffering from guilt. She was worried that her having Jannah at a later age was the cause of this. Luckily then, she met another mother who went through what she did and was introduced to a support group where others shared their experiences. There, she learnt that the condition was neither caused by her late pregnancy nor what she did when she was pregnant nor was it hereditary.

As she raised Jannah, one of the greatest challenges that Mdm Ida faced, was having to use a tube to feed Jannah when she was just a baby. She had to muster all her courage and force herself to insert the tube, even as her baby cried and tried to pull it out as she had to ensure that Jannah reached an ideal weight for the liver transplant.

Thankfully, the liver transplant went smoothly, and a while after the operation, Jannah did not need the tubes anymore. However, Mdm Ida remained extremely careful. That is because Jannah falls sick easily, and the symptoms are often more severe, resulting in hospitalisation. This was one of the reasons why going out, something so ordinary for the rest of us, was complicated for Jannah and Mdm Ida. For example, when Jannah was younger, before heading out, Mdm Ida had to ensure that the stroller was fully covered to protect her from the natural elements and germs.

Now, Jannah’s condition is improving, and that is what Mdm Ida is happiest about.

As she looks back, she is grateful for all the support they had received, including the help from Club Rainbow. She was especially thankful for the social worker who went over and beyond to help her reach out to Jannah’s school to ensure that Jannah could borrow a laptop in case of home-based learning. Mdm Ida also looks forward to the activities planned by Club Rainbow, such as storytelling, as she believes that it provides an excellent opportunity for Jannah, allowing her to interact with more children of the same age as well as to gain exposure.

When thinking about the future, though, Mdm Ida is still worried. She worries about who will take care of Jannah when she is gone and about Jannah not having insurance due to her condition. This means that they might have to rely only on subsidies which would create a substantial financial burden.

Lastly, Mdm Ida hopes that there could be greater awareness of Biliary Atresia so that others could understand her situation better and not judge so quickly. Still, she knows that this will take time. In the meantime, she encourages all parents going through similar experiences to stay strong and positive and seek comfort in support groups.

Source: https://www.nuh.com.sg/Health-Information/Diseases-Conditions/Pages/Biliary-Atresia-(Children).aspx

Using your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers for Good

By Eugene Koh, Content Contributor

Club Rainbow (Singapore) beneficiaries visit the Singapore Zoo and Madame Tussauds thanks to Pay-it-Forward programme by Trip.com.

As of 28 March 2021, it was reported by the Ministry for Trade and Industry that only 760,000 adult Singaporeans have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers (SRV). Amongst those that have used their SRVs, a small number of Singaporeans have decided to do good by donating their S$100 tourism credits to charity organisations. Some of which are the 220 beneficiaries of Club Rainbow Singapore (CRS) for a day trip to the Singapore Zoo and 58 beneficiaries to Madame Tussauds Singapore.

Facilitated by Trip.com, the online travel agency is one of the authorized booking platforms appointed to facilitate the redemption of the SRVs. Apart from giving Singaporeans the best staycation and attraction deals, Trip.com is taking it a step further to provide an alternative way for Singaporeans to fully utilise their travel credits in a meaningful way through their “Pay-it-Forward” programme.

Launched in 1 December 2020, the initiative allows Singaporeans to donate the products bought using their SRVs; such as attractions, hotel stays or tours tickets to specific local beneficiary groups.

Through this initiative, Trip.com aims to raise awareness about the specific beneficiary groups, rally and inspire their stakeholders to support them in various ways during and beyond this campaign. In conjunction, they also wish to maximize the level of support to the local tourism industry through SRVs through ticket purchase. “It is our responsibility to step forward and support social service agencies and non-profit organisations which have been doing an amazing job empowering and caring for those who are more vulnerable or in need in our society. Their work and services will have a lasting impact on these beneficiaries.” Says Trip.com.

When asked about why Singaporeans would rather spent their credits on charity, Trip.com highlighted Singaporeans’ continuous support towards less-privileged communities and recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic could have also motivated this support.

Moving forward, Trip.com is looking for fresh and exciting ideas that can help raise awareness and encourage Singaporeans to support less-privileged individuals and families. “We are committed to playing our part in building a caring society and we are looking to expand our support and collaboration with these agencies beyond this "Pay It Forward" campaign.” Says Trip.com.

Apart from using their SRVs, Singaporeans may also support the Pay It Forward programme by paying for the products with their credit/debit cards as well as Trip coins. Alternatively, one can support Club Rainbow Singapore through sponsorship of our programmes, annual events, supporting online campaigns and even volunteering with us.

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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.

Little in appearance, big in heart

Three young children, one common goal. Acts of compassion and service are slowly but surely growing among young children.

Mr Andrew Yeo with daughter, Charlotte Yeo.

While packing up her room one day, 9-year-old Charlotte Yeo suggested donating her toys – some of which were new – to charity. That was when her father, Andrew Yeo, suggested holding a garage sale instead, in conjunction with her C for Charity project.

C for Charity was initiated by Andrew, who wishes to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism into Charlotte. Funds will be raised through activities calling for donations (e.g. rollerblading for 10km), garage sales, bake sales, and sale of crafts such as handmade jewellery or slime.

The father-daughter duo aims to raise $1,000 for Club Rainbow by the end of this year. “$1,000 isn’t a lot, but it is something I would like to start my daughter with,” Andrew said.

As a young girl, Charlotte already practices empathy to those who are less fortunate than her. She believes that no form of help is too little, as long as it makes an impact on others’ lives.

The rollerblading enthusiast has taken a page out of her father’s book, as Andrew also strongly believes in volunteerism. “Many of us live in a very comfortable world in Singapore. Sometimes we do forget that there are those who need more help than others,” Andrew shared.  

Charlotte is just one of many children who have come forward to support their less fortunate counterparts. Zoe, who is 9 years old as well, raised $3,000 from her self-initiated fundraising campaign where she baked cookies and created arts and crafts items to gift donors.

Zoe Tan, 9-year-old raised funds through baked cookies. She created arts and crafts items to gift donors.

“There is so much we can do to support the less fortunate children and those whose family has to carry a great burden to work for hard-earned money and has to instead pay for school fees, medical expenses and much more,” Zoe said.

“She has learnt a lot about the different types of needs and difficulties that children and families might experience, as well as different ways in which one could be of service to others,” Zoe’s mum shared.

Raising money, let alone a 6-digit sum, may seem like an almost impossible feat to young children who have barely passed the first decade of their lives.

10-year-old Chng Rui Jie raised a combined sum of $250,000 for beneficiaries of various charities, most significantly, rabbits.

According to Channel News Asia, SPCA and Care Singapore are among the 18 organisations Rui Jie has helped raised funds for.

To date, Rui Jie has raised $6000 for Club Rainbow through her online campaign - ‘I Pray for Hope’.

Her campaign frenzy was ignited by her desire to help hungry rabbits, and her most successful campaign thus far raised more than $56,000 for Primary One to Two children as part of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. 

Titled “I Pray for Hope”, the campaign Rui Jie started for Club Rainbow raised $6,000 to date.

“As a young girl, I think rainbows represent hope, and everyone should have a chance to receive and experience hope.”

All the money raised for Club Rainbow will be used to finance our children’s weekly therapy services, development programmes and provide financial assistance for their families.

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If you are inspired and excited to start your first fundraising campaign, do contact us at crscpm@clubrainbow.org, and we will be happy to assist you.

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.

Riding The Tide Together

by Rachel Kok Chian Yee, Content Contributor

Madam Dalia’s fears for her daughter’s health first arose when the doctor informed her of the need to perform a blood transfusion for Eryqha a day after birth.

“They told me that since she was born, she has been vomiting, and her jaundice levels hit 400 plus already, so they had to send her for blood transfusion and into inter-care…” she recounted shakily, “until now, she’s suffered a lot.”

Nine-year-old Eryqha was diagnosed with a blood disorder where red blood cells are spherical instead of concave in shape, impairing oxygen transport and delivery to the body, leading to anaemia and jaundice, among other conditions. For Eryqha, this means frequent fatigue and low immunity, which have impaired her school and daily experiences.

“After blood transfusions, we have to monitor her condition,” Madam Dalia explained, “if she turns yellow or has a fever, she’ll be admitted [to the hospital].”

She went on to describe situations in which Eryqha would be overwhelmed with fatigue and stop playing with her siblings altogether, one of the earliest symptoms of her deteriorating condition after blood transfusions.

For Madam Dalia, Eryqha’s condition is not new to her, having lived with blood disorders herself. While her other two children may have presented similar symptoms, Eryqha’s condition remains the most severe one. 

“She [has already had] her gall bladder removed, and now they’re [monitoring the need] to remove her spleen. We [continue to] pray hard that she [doesn’t] get feverish. When she gets [a] fever, it becomes more difficult [for her].”

Staying afloat in troubled waters

Currently, Eryqha is a Primary 3 student. When asked about her academic and social experiences, her mother responded that Eryqha really enjoys school.

“Whenever she [is] admitted [to the hospital], she [would] always ask about homework. She loves to go to school.”

While her teachers have been informed of her health condition, her peers may raise questions on her health, especially when her symptoms become visible. Given her enrolment in a mainstream school, the implications of her condition remain foreign to most young students, often leading Eryqha to become somewhat self-conscious, consulting her parents during these confusing situations.

“She would tell me, ‘Mommy, my friends asked me why my eyes are yellow’,” Madam Dalia related, “so I [would] tell her, ‘don’t bother [about it], you go to school to study and be a good student, don’t worry about what people [may] say’.

According to Madam Dalia, she is thankful that Eryqha does not take these comments from her peers to heart and chooses to focus her efforts on her schoolwork. At the same time, while she can mostly attend her classes in school, her participation in physical education lessons can be challenged by her health at times.

“She can’t [really participate in sports]. We have a letter [from the doctor that says] that she can’t do heavy-duty exercises, like jumping.”

All hands on deck

In the face of adversity, Eryqha remains undeterred in school and in social situations, choosing to be optimistic and excited about life. Her mother recounted a particular episode where their family had an outing to the Trick Eye Museum. She was heartened by how excited Eryqha was as she interacted with the exhibitions, especially since this outing had been long-awaited by the family. But perhaps no memory is as indelible as Eryqha’s expression of gratitude towards her mother, a gesture that deeply moved Madam Dalia.

“On my birthday, she made me a card,” she narrated tearfully. “She said, ‘thank you for taking care of me, thank you for feeding me.”

Eryqha lives with her parents, grandmother and two siblings, where a regular day for her consists of going to school, painting, and playing with her siblings and pet cat. The family’s income was badly affected by the CoVid’19 pandemic, where her father’s earnings as a taxi driver hit an all-time low. However, due to the family’s need for a flexible schedule, it is challenging to search for other occupations.

“If he has the type of job that [requires him to be out all] day, I [won’t be able to] handle [the household] on my own,” Madam Dalia explained, “[we need to] fetch the kids in the morning, fetch Eryqha, and I need to take care of my mother-in-law too. If [he had] a monthly [paying] job, [there] could be [higher income] for us, but if I have to do everything myself, I really can’t manage.”

A beacon of light

When the pandemic first hit Eryqha’s family, Club Rainbow provided financial aid to assist them in coping with the ramifications on the family’s income. Eryqha is also a recipient of the Club Rainbow Bursary Award as part of the Rainbow Academic Support Programme, as a recognition of her outstanding performance in school despite her medical condition.

Currently, Club Rainbow provides the family with food rations and other amenities, as well as support from Club Rainbow social workers. When asked how Eryqha has been dealing with the pandemic, Madam Dalia conveyed how thankful she was to have a thoughtful and sensible daughter in Eryqha.

“She’s very understanding, very humble,” she told us. “She knows that her parents [have] financial problems, so she doesn’t [ask for much]. So when we have plan[s] to bring them for [an] outing, [we’re] happy for them. […] We can see… how happy she is, when [we have an outing].”

 Above all, Madam Dalia is hopeful that her daughter’s medical condition will improve with time. As someone whose loved one is suffering from a blood disorder, she seeks solace from prayer and support from her family.

“I think as parents we cannot give up,” she emphasized, “we must be patient, [and we shouldn’t] scold [the children] because they never asked to be born with the illness.”

“Sometimes people will [tell us], ‘I don’t think she’ll get better, but you’ll never know, maybe someday she’ll be okay? So as parents, I think [we don’t have to feel] regretful [or] disappointed. For us, we don’t have such thoughts; we will follow the flow and hope the best for her.”

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RACHEL KOK

a marketing university student in Singapore who loves bubble tea and coffee more than anything. She also enjoys music and film, and tries her best to read as much as she can.

As a language lover, she is proficient in English, Mandarin and Japanese, and enjoys the occasional debate about the areas these 3 languages have in common, especially when it comes to dissecting song lyrics.

Rachel identifies her purpose in life as engaging with like-minded people and bringing joy to others through her words.

Supporting you every step of the way

Watching their children blossom into maturity may be one of the most challenging things a parent goes through. What about the children themselves?

During the June holidays last year, Club Rainbow Singapore (CRS)  saw some 12 youth beneficiaries taking part in bonding activities as part of the Youth Engagement Programme.

Coaster-making kits delivered to participants.

That was the first initiative of CRS’ Youth Engagement Programme in 2020, which has covered a career guidance workshop by DBS volunteers, a coaster-making entrepreneurial workshop, and a magic workshop within the same year. Due to the onset of the pandemic, however, all of these planned workshops were shifted online.

The coaster-making entrepreneurial online workshop was facilitated by delivering the required items to the beneficiaries and teaching them online.

The big idea behind this workshop was to help the youths discover their interests while teaching them how to profit from their creative masterpieces. Tips on starting a business and social media marketing were shared with the youths.

Widest smiles, showing off their completed coasters.

“Two of them came down and mentioned that they are really very interested in this and branched out to other products on their own after determining coaster-making wasn’t their strong point,” said Low Guan You, a social worker who was  the main facilitator, “the medium doesn’t matter.”

Taking it online did not hinder the effectiveness of these workshops, as evident from the youths’ successful identification of their own interests.

Good relationships formed after end of session.

After having forged new friendships through fruitful interactions, the beneficiaries wanted more. By popular demand, a new group work session, “Catching Up!” was initiated to provide a place for these budding friendships to blossom.

Apart from participants of previous youth engagement sessions, other beneficiaries were also invited to partake in the new session. Participants kept to safe distancing measures, wearing masks and sitting two metres apart, however, this posed no difficulty to communication within the group.

Rather, the objective of fostering communication within a peer support group setting via participating in shared experiences was successfully achieved. This was done not only through collaborative board games with the likes of Exploding Kittens but the discussion of common interests as well.

Taking occasional breaks from the board games, beneficiaries were engaged by staff chit-chatting with them and catching up with their personal lives. In response, they willingly shared bits and pieces of their lives with staff thereafter.

One common identity that brought the beneficiaries to Club Rainbow in the first place, is their chronic medical diagnoses. We believe that a group work setting would create a space for them to express themselves through sharing personal stories where they could relate to one another and feel heard.

“(Youths) are still at the formative stage of their lives, so we want to make sure they’re well supported not just socially but also emotionally and personally,” said Guan You.

Contact us at crscpm@clubrainbow.org to find out how you can support our youth engagements!

BTS: Charity Merchandise 2021

Last month, we presented the newest addition to our range of merchandise.

A Back-to-Work Kit to reciprocate the unwavering support from the community, we put together a number of items to compliment professionals’ flexible work arrangements.

A few pairs of children from the Visual Arts programme, age ranging from as young as 5 to 14 years old were brought together to support this year’s merchandise.

Working on the theme – Collaboration, each pair of children came up with a different view of how collaboration and teamwork meant to them.

“The moment mummy told us about the theme, Ridhwan associate happiness with food. We just get the idea on fast food. The only problem is both of us wants to draw the same thing and could not agree on the color, who to draw what, and whose handwriting is nicer.” - Nurin Insyirah Binte Masli

We invited the children to share their experience of teamwork through the art pieces which they have worked on together. Speaking with the artists, most of them expressed the difficulty they felt of working with another individual even though the other party was a sibling.

“I initially felt confused as to how our ideas would look like and how our ideas being combined would look like as the end product.” - Mass Amirah Binte Amir Matchap

There were discussions of deciding how to bring the theme to paper and colour, whose handwriting is better and right down to details such as colours to use. A challenge that professionals are all too familiar with where teamwork means every member plays an important role in achieving a goal and collaboration sees everyone working together in sync to complete a project.

Almost like second nature, the children manoeuvre to accept and adapt to the differences between them. They were able to identify individual strengths and to compromise. At the end of the project, they expressed satisfaction and happiness with the outcome of the amazing art pieces.

Watch videos of the different pair of children working together:

Behind-the-scenes - Amirah and Sage

Behind-the-scenes - Jonas and Titus

Behind-the-scenes - Ridhwan and Nurin

Amongst the artworks by the different pairs of children, the artwork by the siblings – Muhammad Ridhwan Bin Masli and Nurin Insyirah Binte Masli was selected to be featured on our Back to Work Kit.

All art pieces by our artists can be adapted to the range of merchandise that we carry. To invite our little artists to be supporting partners of your outreach efforts, please do write to crscpm@clubrainbow.org.

Last Christmas, they gave you their Heart

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.

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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.

Love is Never Rare; Rare is Endless Love

by Rachel Kok Chian Yee, Content Contributor

As a 12-year-old, Umaira enjoys going to school and meeting with her friends, listening to relaxing music and taking walks at the park. One of Umaira’s most striking traits is her carefree nature and her excitement towards meeting others, a testament to her desire to be undeterred in her daily social interactions despite living with Global Developmental Delay and multiple congenital anomalies. 

Umaira has weak lower limbs and balancing issues as such; she needs assistance in her mobility. She is also non-verbal and requires the need for diapers.

We spoke to Umaira’s mother, Madam Noorliah, to find out more about Umaira’s daily life.

1. How does a day in the life of Umaira look like? 

Umaira attends a special education school and loves seeing her classmates. Even though she is non-verbal, she loves interacting with people. She also likes watching Didi & Friends, watching me cook every day and taking walks at the park below our house. I feel so blessed to have Umaira in my life. This journey is not easy for us, but I believe things will work out well as God will take care of us and plan for our lives.

2. As Umaira’s primary caretaker, can you tell us what your greatest concern is for her?

I am most concerned about her eating difficulties. I separate the dishes every meal for her and feed her in small portions as she has a cleft palate, and we have to remind her to chew and eat slowly so that she does not choke on her food. She also has flat feet and tires easily when walking, so we usually use the wheelchair for her safety when we are out. It is not easy because she is non-verbal, but we always do our best.

3. How has life been like since CoVid-19 at home?

Life after CoVid-19 has changed a lot for my family since we cannot leave the house as much as we used to, mainly because Umaira does not like wearing masks. It is quite risky for Umaira as her immunity is not strong, and she can easily get sick. We try to avoid malls and crowded places and keep adhering to the safe distancing guidelines and monitoring our health. We will keep praying for good health and safety. 

4. How is it like for Umaira to be a part of Club Rainbow?

I want to thank my social worker Janeth from Club Rainbow, for her great help. She has helped us a lot ever since we joined Club Rainbow. Through Janeth, we have been able to seek speech therapy, physiotherapy and play therapy for Umaira, and I can see that the therapy sessions have been greatly beneficial to Umaira. Janeth has also helped us with food rations, getting diapers and applying for bursaries for Umaira. This has helped us a lot as Umaira is usually in a wheelchair, and it has been easy to communicate with drivers on this. I feel blessed and am thankful for Club Rainbow for bringing colour and sunshine into Umaira’s life.

Thank you, Janeth, for being so thoughtful and showing concern for Umaira and my family all these years.

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Rachel Kok

a marketing university student in Singapore who loves bubble tea and coffee more than anything. She also enjoys music and film, and tries her best to read as much as she can.

As a language lover, she is proficient in English, Mandarin and Japanese, and enjoys the occasional debate about the areas these 3 languages have in common, especially when it comes to dissecting song lyrics.

Rachel identifies her purpose in life as engaging with like-minded people and bringing joy to others through her words.