On 30 and 31 May, Ong Meng Hong, the chairperson of Runninghour Co-operative and founder of local upcycling company Art of Suarwood, will lead a group of Runninghour's guides and buddies, its members with special needs, on a walkathon across Singapore to raise funds for the co-operative's inclusive programmes.
The inaugural walk will span 26 hours across destinations island-wide, with Mr Ong walking the full duration, taking only scheduled breaks along the way, while the rest of his entourage will join him across dedicated segments of the route.
“We hope to raise $20,000,” he adds. As of press time, the co-operative has raised more than $12,000. Mr Ong, who recently turned 55, has been with Runninghour since the co-operative was formed in 2014. The Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) understands that this is his first time embarking a walk of such scale.
According to Mr Ong, the walk begins on 30 May at 8am at the National Stadium and fans out across the city like a deliberate love letter to Singapore's neighbourhoods.
For the first part of the journey, walkers will traipse past Marina Barrage, through Gardens by the Bay, down to the bustle of Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. Thereafter, the team will head to Alexandra, where the Mr Ong and the walkers will have lunch at Alexandra Village Hawker Centre.
“I planned my route around where the good makan (dining) spots are,” Mr Ong laughs. “We may do Facebook livestream along the way.”
The last leg of the journey will take place along Changi Airport terminals 2 and 4 through the Jurassic Mile, before concluding at East Coast Park Lagoon sometime around 10am on 31 May, roughly 26 hours the team has set off.
Donations fund the operational heartbeat of Runninghour's weekly programmes: the running sessions, yoga classes, fitness training, bowling trips and hikes that give Buddies a reliable rhythm and community.
They also support volunteer upskilling, outreach to individuals with special needs and their caregivers, and the people and resources needed to run these activities safely.
The co-operative offers a simple way to understand the impact. For instance, a $30 donation supports one inclusive session for a Buddy and volunteer guide, while a $60 donation brings more Buddies into regular sessions. Meanwhile, a $120 donation sustains ongoing training and community-building, while a $240 donation and above supports bespoke activities, coaching and the operational backbone that keeps it all running week to week.
For the uninitiated, Runninghour began as a humble run club in 2009, bringing together fitness enthusiasts and persons with special needs. By 2014, it formalised into a co-operative, allowing it to channel funds back into programmes that empower persons with special needs. Today, it is home to over 700 members.
Donate to Runninghour Co-operative here.
