GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA. It's Fund Raising & Fun Racing!

Thank You

2007-01-17T16:32:00.000+08:00

Dear HWA Runner,

We have just received notification from the Handicaps Welfare Association that the accounts for the GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA Charity Fund Raising Drive done in conjunction with the Singapore Marathon in 2006 have been successfully closed.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of dedicated fund raisers like you, a grand total of $38,262.10 was raised through pledge cards, appeal letters, sales of surplus HWA runners t-shirts and a Polar watch charity auction. This money will go directly to making the lives of the handicapped in Singapore better, and help them integrate back into mainstream society.

On behalf of HWA, we would like to say a big "THANK YOU" for your strong support of this worthy cause.

Have a wonderful 2007!

Warmest regards,
GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA Organising Committee

HWA Year End Party

2006-12-14T21:58:00.000+08:00

Listen up Go The Extra Mile for HWA runners! There is a Year End Party for HWA members this Saturday (16 Dec), 6pm at Kallang Community Club (near Boon Keng MRT).

The expected turnout for this event is more than 200 members, with many of whom only come out for this annual event. This would be a good platform for Go The Extra Mile for HWA runners to see who benefited from the funds raised!

If you are interested, pls email Stephanie.

PS: Due to members' limited mobility, HWA will appreciate if runners can help out during the event (i.e. help with the food distribution when dinner is served, or assist members when they move around).

SURPLUS HWA New Balance Running Tops for Sale

2006-11-26T15:28:00.000+08:00

There are some surplus sponsored New Balance HWA Running Tops. In a bid to raise as much money as possible for HWA, approval has been given by New Balance to sell these remaining shirts, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to HWA.

For the ORANGE MALE HWA running tops, we have surplus size S and size M singlets.

For the RED FEMALE HWA running tops, surplus XS, S, M, L and XL sized singlets are available.

Each running top is going at the low price of $15 (although you can certainly donate more per shirt if you wish )! All proceeds will go directly to HWA.

If you are interested to help raise more money for HWA by purchasing some of these surplus HWA NB Running Tops, pls email us at hwascsm06@gmail.com with the following information before 3 Dec :
- name
- email
- contact number
- type and size of shirt requested (e.g. female XL, male M)
- quantity

We will compile the requests and get back to you as soon as possible on the availability. The singlets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis, until stocks run out.

Use of appeal letter to canvass for funds up till 3 Dec 06

2006-11-23T22:40:00.000+08:00

Many thanks to all the runners who have been making their way down to HWA to return their pledge cards and money collected over the past few days. The staff at HWA are very touched and impressed by the enthusiasm and sincerity shown by so many of the runners who went out of their way to raise as much money as possible.

To date, more than 90% of runners have returned their pledge cards. The total amount raised so far, taking into account returns from both pledge cards and appeal letters, is over $32K! Well done everyone! There was even one runner who single-handedly raised more than $5K!! Notwithstanding this, every dollar counts, and regardless of the individual amount raised, you are all heroes!

Although the deadline for the return of pledge cards is still 24 Nov (Friday), fund raising through the use of appeal letters can continue right up to 3 Dec 06. For those who are still able to raise funds for HWA between 24 Nov and 3 Dec 06, you can use the appeal letter which is available at the HWA blog (click here for directions on how to obtain and use the appeal letter). The appeal letter allows donors to send cheques directly to HWA. Please note that the license allows fund raisers to continue canvassing for funds till 3 Dec 06.

Big thank you again to all the wonderful HWA runners and fund raisers!

HWA Goodie Bag Collection

2006-11-12T21:24:00.000+08:00

After months of soliciting sponsorship, here are the finalised items for the HWA Goodie Bags! These are given as a token of appreciation for all the runners who have been working hard to help raise funds for HWA :D

Packing of the Goodie Bags has begun, and the bags will be ready for collection from HWA from Wed 15 Nov onwards. Items in the goodie bag include: New Balance running top, New Balance race belt, King's anti-UV/protection glasses + carrier case, Polar discount voucher, Nature Valley Bar, 100 plus can drink, Lux shower gel and Clear shampoo.

The following are the pre-requisites for goodie bag collection:
– Collector must be a registered HWA runner;
– Collector must have returned all pledge cards distributed to him/her; and
– Collector has not already collected the goodie bag.

So remember, the deadline for returning of the pledge cards, money collected and CCAs (Collector's Certificate of Authority) is 24 November 2006 Friday.

Runners may also collect the goodie bags from HWA (from 15 Nov Wed onwards) at the same time while returning the above items.

HWA is located at 16 Whampoa Drive Singapore 327725. Please call HWA at 6254 3006, ask for Ms Stephanie Quan or Ms Jess Ong to arrange for a date/time to return your pledge cards and money. Pls note that arangements with HWA must be made BEFOREHAND to avoid making a wasted trip to HWA.

HWA's operating hours are:
Mon-Fri : 9am - 6pm
Sat : 9am - 1pm

Returning of the Pledge Cards

2006-10-21T08:48:00.000+08:00

If you have filled up your pledge cards with donations and ready to return the cards and the collected $um, well done!!

Please return the money collected & the pledge cards to HWA. HWA is located at 16 Whampoa Drive Singapore 327725. Please call HWA at 6254 3006, ask for Ms Stephanie Quan or Ms Jess Ong to arrange for a date/time to return your pledge cards and money. Pls note that arangements with HWA must be made BEFOREHAND to avoid making a wasted trip to HWA.

HWA's operating hours are:
Mon-Fri : 9am - 6pm
Sat : 9am - 1pm

MORE pledge cards available!
Pls do not hesitate to ask for more pledge cards, to GO THE EXTRA MILE For HWA.
We will be more than happy to issue you more pledge cards! You can collect more pledge cards via any of these means mentioned here.

Thank you for your participation and support. We have about one more month to go, let's press on to GO THE EXTRA MILE For HWA!

Singlet Size Chart

2006-10-20T23:26:00.000+08:00

The size charts for the male and female singlets are shown in the tables. How the measurements are taken are shown in this picture on the left. The chest measurement is taken across from under the armhole (as marked by a purple line drawn across the singlet) while the length of the singlet (as marked by a red line drawn vertically down the singlet) is from the tip of the shoulder to the lowest end of the singlet.

Table 1. Male Singlet Size Chart
Table 2. Female Singlet Size Chart

Table 3. Size Chart Conversion between Asian & US

Important Note

The female singlet sizes are comparatively smaller to the running tops from other leading brands.

The male singlet sizes are comparatively larger to the running tops from other leading brands.

If you see a need to change your singlet size, pls email us at hwascsm06@gmail.com before 27 Oct. In order for us to proceed with the singlet ordering and printing, no singlet size changes will be entertained after 27 Oct.

New Balance Lightning Dry Singlet & Race-belt

2006-10-08T21:06:00.000+08:00

As previously mentioned, each HWA runner will receive a HWA Runner's Pack.

The men's (orange) and ladies' (red) singlet are shown below. The measurements for each of the singlet sizes (XS to XL) can be found here.

A picture of the New Balance race-belt is shown below.

Pictures for the rest of the items in the HWA Runner's Pack will be uploaded in due course. Stay tuned!

Avenues for Pledge Card Collections

2006-09-25T09:14:00.000+08:00

Thanks everyone for the continuing support of the GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA charity fund-raising drive.

For those who still have not yet collected the pledge cards, the following avenues are available for collection:

Collection at HWA premises. HWA is located at 16 Whampoa Drive Singapore 327725. Please call HWA at 6254 3006, ask for Ms Stephanie Quan and indicate that you are making arrangements to collect your pledge cards directly from HWA. Pls note that arangements with Stephanie must be made BEFOREHAND to avoid making a wasted trip to HWA. Collection time on Saturday is before 1pm.
Ad hoc collection from CBD area. As some of the committee members work in the CBD area, special arrangements for collection from the CBD area can be made on a case-by-case basis.
CBD Runs (every tues). Pls see here.

Important Note: Please drop us an email at hwascsm06@gmail.com to indicate which option listed above you would be using to collect the pledge cards. Pls also state when (date/time) you would be collecting your pledge cards so that we can get them ready for collection on the specific date/time.

Things to bring
NRIC/Driver’s Licence (for verification of identity)

Things to note

Everyone will be issued two pledge cards. More can be issued upon request.
Upon collecting the pledge card, you will need to sign two copies of the acknowledgement form. One copy will be given to you.
You will also be issued a copy of the Collector’s Certificate of Authority (CCA), which is required to validate the fund-raising.

For further enquiries, please email hwascsm06@gmail.com.

Warmest regards,
GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA Organising Committee

Welcome to the HWA Charity Fund Raising Event Website

2006-09-18T19:20:00.000+08:00

This year, don’t just run for personal fulfillment at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06). Why not GO THE EXTRA MILE and get more out of your run?

If you are running in SCSM 06, why not GO THE EXTRA MILE and raise funds for a charitable cause?

Help the disabled GO THE EXTRA MILE by enhancing their lives and enabling them to integrate into society.

GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA. It's Fund Raising & Fun Racing!

Hi everyone!

We have decided to start a blog to update everyone about the latest that is happening for this charity fund raising drive. You will find the latest updates, FAQs and many more here.

Click here to contribute to this cause!

Let's GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA together. :)

Running Injuries Talk @ HWA on 9 Sep

2006-09-10T18:05:00.000+08:00

Thanks to all who came for the Running Injuries Talk by Dr. Jason Chia on 9 Sep !

We hope that you have benefited from the talk, and that the tour of HWA facilities helped you to better appreciate the good work done by the staff at HWA. Many people who visit HWA for the first time are taken aback by how such good work is accomplished in the simple and modest premises that HWA has.

Below are some pictures that were taken during the talk ... enjoy!

Dr. Jason Chia, a sports medicine specialist, giving the talk on "Common Running Injuries". He should know a lot about them since he is an avid runner himself!

Our runners listening attentively.

Stephanie, our very friendly and helpful HWA staff member, showing us the computer lab at HWA which is used to teach IT skills to the handicapped.

Stephanie showing us the make-shift home where the disabled could learn how to do activities of daily living in a simulated home environment. They have specially fitted height-adjustable sink (to accomodate the disabled and their family members at home), toilets etc.

The height-adjustable sink to allow the disabled to use the sink at a convenient level because they will not be able to reach the normal sink while seated in a wheelchair.
Simple day-to-day activities that we take for granted, such as scooping food up from a bowl/plate, may become a great challenge for someone without full use of one of his/her hands.
One end of this bowl is raised so that the user can scoop up food easily with the use of one hand.

The spoons are angled differently from the ones we normally use. Again, this is one of the many examples of things we take for granted which become almost insurmountable tasks for a physically-challenged person. A handicapped person may not be able to use a normal spoon to feed himself/herself. This angled spoon helps to make this easier for them, allowing them to maintain independence in some of their daily activities.

Can you guess what this is ?
A sandwich maker. This allows the user to apply jam on a sandwich using only one hand by placing the piece of bread on the device which holds the bread in place. Such little inventions help a great deal as they allow the user to not only help himself/herself, but also do things for their family, making them feel good and happy about themselves.

Below are also some additional pictures on file that we find particularly relevant ...

The rehabilitation centre in HWA. Notice how the spartan premises have been fully utilised to give the best to the patients. This rehabilitation centre is a key fixture at HWA, providing physiotherapy for the handicapped.

A smile that brightens up the entire room. The ability to feed oneself, something so natural to most of us, brings so much joy to this lady.

Some volunteers working tirelessly in the HWA office.

Announcement 10 Sep

2006-09-10T17:59:00.000+08:00

Registration for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06) is likely to close soon due to the current overwhelming response.

In view of this, we are concerned that the discounted S$50 bulk registration free under HWA may not materialise as it is dependent on at least 25 HWA runners signing up at the same time.

We urge all runners interested to join in this HWA charity fund-raising drive to register for SCSM 06 as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, and not delay registration in anticipation of the discounted bulk registration fee.

HWA Runner's Pack

2006-09-02T18:42:00.000+08:00

Great news!!

As mentioned previously, all participants running for HWA will receive a special HWA runner’s pack. This is our way of saying thank you to those who have taken the time to register for this drive and help raise funds for HWA.

The confirmed items in the HWA runners pack so far include:

New Balance Running Top
New Balance Race Belt
Running Eye Shades (NOT available in the market yet!!)

Additional negotiations are underway for other useful items in the HWA runner's pack!

Do join in this worthy cause, or get your friends to sign up! Not only will you get a chance to do something worthwhile, but you will also receive this HWA Runner's Pack for free! Click here to play your part for HWA :)

Templates for Your Use

2006-08-26T11:39:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

We have come up with two email/letter templates that you could use to help in this worthy cause.

Runner Recruitment Email. If you have friends or contacts whom you think will be interested to RUN for this worthy cause, you could send them this template here.
Appeal Letter / Email. In addition to pledge cards, HWA runners may also use this to canvass for donations from their personal contacts.

Once again, we thank you for GOING THE EXTRA MILE For HWA!

Appeal Letter / Email Template

2006-08-26T11:14:00.001+08:00

In addition to pledge cards, HWA runners may use the following appeal letter / email (with customisations for those segment in blue) to canvass for donations from their personal contacts.

Please download the reply form (“Here’s How You Can GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA”) here. (Instructions to download: click on the "Download Now" button to save the file).

Gentle Reminder: Please remember to attach this reply form together with the appeal letter / email below when you send it to your potential donor. This will allow them to respond via the reply form promptly.

Dear name of individual donor,

I am writing to seek your support in contributing to a charity fund-raising drive for the Handicaps Welfare Association.

Come 3 December 2006, we aim to gather 250 avid runners to GO THE EXTRA MILE and help raise at least SG$50,000 for HWA as they take part in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06).

HWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhance the lives of people with physical disabilities in Singapore. Examples of activities undertaken by HWA include much needed rehabilitation services, transport service and training for people with physical disabilities, allowing them to lead fuller lives and contribute back to society.

Thus, I am seeking your generous support through cash sponsorship to help HWA GO THE EXTRA MILE in their efforts to enhance the lives of the physically disabled and help them integrate into society.

Attached is the reply form (“Here’s How You Can GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA”) for your consideration. Please contact me or email hwascsm06@gmail.com if you need any further information. More information on this charity drive is also available at www.hwascsm06.blogspot.com.

Please help me GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA. Thank you.

Warmest Regards,

(Name of person seeking sponsorship
Contact No: XXXXXXXX
Email: XXXXXXX)

Attached: Reply form - Here’s How You Can GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA

*This charity fund raising drive has been approved by the National Council of Social Service. More information on HWA is available at www.hwa.org.sg. All funds raised will go directly to HWA. For every $1 raised through this project, at least $0.70 goes to fund services and programmes that benefit HWA members.

Runners Recruitment Email Template

2006-08-26T10:20:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

If you have friends or contacts whom you think will be interested to RUN for this worthy cause, you could send them this email below (with customisation for those segments in blue).

Dear name of friend,

Come 3 December 2006, I will be running 10km / 21.1km / 42.195km –delete accordingly at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06).

This year, I’ll be GOING THE EXTRA MILE to raise funds for the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhance the lives of people with physical disabilities in Singapore. I sincerely hope you will support this worthy cause. To make this a success, we need 250 runners participating in SCSM 06 to join us and help raise at least S$50,000 for HWA.

Since you are keen on running, we not only encourage you to participate in SCSM 06 but also to GO THE EXTRA MILE and help raise funds for HWA through your participation. You can run in any category for this charity fund-raising drive. As part of this initiative, you will be issued pledge cards and appeal letters to raise funds for HWA. In appreciation for your support, you will receive a special HWA runner’s pack.

Please contact me or Ms Junie Tang at junie.tang@gmail.com if you need more information. Please go to http://hwascsm06.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-to-go-extra-mile-for-hwa.html to participate in this worthy cause.

Please GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA. Thank you!

*This charity fund raising drive has been approved by the National Council of Social Service. All funds raised will go directly to HWA. More information on HWA is available at http://www.hwa.org.sg/.

Latest News as of 15 Sep 06!

2006-08-05T18:58:00.000+08:00

Runners
To date, a total of 135 runners have been recruited into the fund-raising drive! Thanks to all who have signed up. Do ask your friends, relatives and colleagues to join this worthy cause.

If you wish to sign up too, pls email hwascsm06@gmail.com and we will contact you for more details.

Pledge Cards and Appeal Letters
The pledge cards have been printed and distribution has already started. More details on how to collect your pledge cards are given here.

The appeal letters will be sent to all HWA runners via email. Samples of the appeal letters are also available here.

Licencing
The National Council of Social Service has approved the GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA Charity Fund Raising event. The NCSS Approval Reference Number is: 2006080237.

250 Runners needed to raise funds for HWA

2006-08-05T18:27:00.000+08:00

All of us know the feeling.

The rush of wind against your face. The sound of shoes pounding the tarmac. The exhilaration of completing a race.

This year, when you sign up for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06), why not make it even more meaningful by raising funds for a worthy charity, the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA)?

For every kilometer that you complete, you can help make the lives of the handicapped in Singapore better. For every dollar raised, better critical rehabilitation services, transport and training can be provided for the handicapped, allowing them to lead fuller lives, and contribute back to society.

The Target
To mobilise 200 to 250 runners to raise funds for HWA by participating in SCSM 2006.
Target amount: at least SG$50,000

How this fund raising will be done
After consultation with HWA, the following fund-raising methods will be used:

Pledge Cards
This will allow runners to get lump sum donations (e.g. $5, $10, $50 etc) from people willing to contribute to HWA. Donations can also be based on the distance covered by the runner (e.g. sponsor to donate $XYZ for every kilometer run during SCSM 06). Therefore, the further you run, the more money you can raise for charity!
Appeal Letters
This letter will allow fund-raisers to seek bigger lump sum donations from donors who prefer a more personalised touch.

Participants from any of the running categories (full marathon, half marathon, 10km etc) are welcome.

Incentives
All participants running for HWA will receive a special HWA runner’s pack! Negotiations are currently underway to secure sponsorship for a t-shirt and other goodies for the pack.

The Singapore Sports Council has agreed to provide a discounted registration fee of $50 per head for those who run under this initiative. However it is recommended that you use any special discounts or early bird offers to sign up first because these prices may be better than the $50 flat rate offered. If you are keen to use this discounted registration fee, please email us at hwascsm06@gmail.com

More information on HWA can also be found here

How to play your part (and GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA)

Thank you very much for your support!

How to GO THE EXTRA MILE for HWA

2006-08-05T17:45:00.000+08:00

If I want to run for HWA during SCSM 06

1) Register for SCSM 06 at www.singaporemarathon.com/en

2) Email the following details to hwascsm06@gmail.com

Full name
NRIC
Gender
Contact number
Email address
Preferred T-shirt size
Which category (750m-Kids Dash, 10km, 21.1km, 42.195km) you signed up for in SCSM 06
Referred by (e.g. sgrunners forum, trifam, or the nick of person in the forum)

The organisers will contact you with more details subsequently. Your particulars will be kept strictly confidential.

If I want to contribute to HWA, even though I am not running in SCSM 06

Send a cheque payable to "Handicaps Welfare Association" to the following address:
Handicaps Welfare Association
16 Whampoa Drive
Singapore 327725

Please indicate "HWA SCSM06" at the back of the cheque.

Sponsor runners who have registered under this initiative by contributing to their pledge cards or appeal letters. Alternatively, you can also help canvass for donations from people you know using the pledge cards. Please contact us at hwascsm06@gmail.com if you wish to assist in this manner.

FAQs on the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) Charity Fund-Raising Drive (Updated as of 10 Sep)

2006-08-01T08:58:00.000+08:00

FAQ Change History
1) How did this initiative start?
2) Who is the working group that thought up this initiative?
3) How was the charity to support, in this case HWA, chosen?
4) Who is the official organizer of this charity fund-raising drive?
5) What is HWA ?
6) Has this fund-raising drive received official approval?
7) Can I support other charities during SCSM 06?
8) Can I participate in more than one charity fund-raising drive during SCSM 06?
9) What is the target for this HWA charity fund-raising drive?
10) How will the fund-raising be done?
11) Must I participate in any particular category of SCSM 06 in order to contribute to the HWA SCSM 06 charity fund-raising drive?
12) Are there any incentives or benefits for runners who participate in the HWA charity fund-raising drive?
13) Okay, I am convinced. How do I contribute to the HWA charity fund-raising drive as a runner and fund-raiser?
14) How do I contribute to the HWA charity fund-raising drive, even though I am not running in SCSM 06?
15) How will I know of any further updates on this HWA charity fund-raising drive?
16) Who can I ask if I have any further queries?

FAQ Change History

5 Aug 2006 - First Release

13 Aug 2006 -
- Modified Qn13
- Added Qn 14

23 Aug 2006 -
- Added NCSS approval reference number to Qn6
- Modified Qn 10

10 Sep 2006 -
- Modified Qn 12 on Runner's Pack & bulk discount

1) How did this initiative start?
Many runners in the SGRunners forum will be participating in Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006 (SCSM 06). Therefore, a few of us mooted the idea of leveraging on this event to raise funds for charity. This idea was first raised in the forum in May 2006 (see the following post http://sgrunners.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1838).

To move things along, a few runners gathered to discuss more on how this could be further explored. The initial intention was for this charity fund-raising drive to be done under the umbrella of the SGRunners forum, and hence TLR was invited to the discussion. As TLR was unable to attend, he appointed several moderators (Balasing, Cosmic Wind & Gentle) to join in the deliberations. With this, we formed an ad-hoc working group to discuss and spearhead this charity drive.

2) Who is in the working group that thought up this initiative?
The ad hoc working group that discussed options and came up with proposals was composed of Aichai, Roentgen, Charlotte, Kickjazz, Nemo, Junie, Balasing, Cosmic Wind & Gentle. TLR was kept up to date on the progress of the project and the proposals.

3) How was the charity to support, in this case HWA, chosen?
The committee reviewed the list of charity organizations and voluntary welfare organizations registered with the National Council of Social Service. Several charity organizations were short-listed based on pre-determined criteria.

The criteria for shortlisting were:

Universal appeal
The charity must be able to attract and be backed by the general population of donors;

Secular charity
The group preferred to remain neutral in matters of religion;

Not backed by big organizations
Charities consistently backed by big organizations were assumed to be well taken care of; and

Willingness to provide administrative resources
The organization must be able to provide the administrative, operational and logistical support to run this charity drive.

Due to limited resources and a tight timeline to the opening date for SCSM 06 registration, it was not possible to perform a detailed review and site visit of all the charities in the list. By way of voting, the two most popular organizations were selected. To find out more about these charities, the working group went down to their premises to have a look and met up with the people running these organizations to find out more about them (including how much financial reserves they had, their operating costs per year, the programmes they run, how funds collected are distributed, their annual report, their administrative framework, how many people were supported by the charity etc.). From there and after much deliberation, the committee decided to go with HWA.

It is acknowledged that the choice of a charity is very subjective. The criteria were not intended to rank one charity over another, but instead to assist the working group in choosing a suitable charity which would benefit most from the existing resources that we could offer. The aim was to mobilize people to run in the SCSM 06 for a good cause, and in this way, contribute back to society.

4) Who is the official organizer of this charity fund-raising drive?
This charity drive will be run solely by HWA and the working group of runners as indicated above.

After careful consideration, and to avoid any unnecessary complications, TLR, the moderators and the working group decided NOT to run this charity event officially under the auspices of SGRunners. The SGRunners forum acts only as a portal for publicizing this event. SGRunners is not the organizer of this fund-raising drive.

5) What is HWA?
Details on HWA can be found at the following url http://www.hwa.org.sg/hwa.html.

In a nutshell, HWA is a non-profit charitable organization committed to enhance the quality of life of people with physical disabilities and integrate them into mainstream society. Examples of activities undertaken by HWA include critical rehabilitation services, transport and training for the handicapped in allowing them to lead fuller lives, and contribute back to society. HWA is a member of the National Council of Social Service but not a beneficiary of the Community Chest.

6) Has this fund-raising drive received official approval?
Yes, HWA has obtained approval from the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) for this charity event. The NCSS Approval Reference Number is: 2006080237.

7) Can I support other charities during SCSM06?
The official charity for SCSM 2006 is the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF).

The organizers of SCSM 06 recognise that other charities may also leverage off the SCSM 06 to raise funds, and therefore, provisions are made for this. This charity fund raising event for HWA is organised by us, a group of running enthusiasts, and is not affiliated to the official charity adopted by SCSM 2006.

Deciding on a charity to support is a personal choice. The organizers of this HWA fund-raising drive do NOT advocate forcing or coercing anyone to raise funds for HWA over another charity organisation.

8) Can I participate in more than one charity fund-raising drive during SCSM06?
It is possible to run for more than one charity during SCSM 06. The limitation in such a situation is that you may end up tapping on the same network of family / friends / donors for the same SCSM 06 event.

Therefore, the decision on whether to participate in more than one charity fund-raising drive in SCSM 06 is an individual choice. If you have a large network to tap upon, it may be possible to run for more than one charity.

The organizers cannot speak for the other charities, but as far as this HWA initiative is concerned, all that is needed are runners who are participating in SCSM 06 (any event) and who don't mind helping to raise funds for HWA based on their SCSM 06 participation.

9) What is the target for this HWA charity fund-raising drive?
The aim is to mobilise between 200 to 250 runners to raise funds for HWA by participating in SCSM 2006. The target is to raise at least SG$50 000 for HWA through participation in SCSM 06.

10) How will the fund-raising be done?
Runners who participate in this fund-raising drive will be issued with pledge cards and appeal letters to seek donations via the following means:

Use the pledge cards to obtain lump sum donations (e.g. $5, $10, $50 etc) from people willing to contribute to HWA. Donations can also be based on the distance covered by the runner (e.g. sponsor to donate $XYZ for every kilometer run during SCSM 06). Therefore, the further you run, the more money you can raise for charity!

Use of appeal letters to obtain lump sum donations, or donations based on the distance covered. This letter will allow fund-raisers to seek bigger lump sum donations from donors who prefer a more personalised touch.

In order to ensure transparency and accountability, the money raised will go directly to HWA. No separate bank account will be set up by the organizers. The accounts of the fund-raising drive will be audited and submitted to the National Council of Social Service after the event.

11) Must I participate in any particular category of SCSM 06 in order to contribute to the HWA charity fund-raising drive?
Participants from any of the running categories (full marathon, half marathon, 10km etc) are welcome to join in the HWA charity fund-raising drive.

12) Are there any incentives or benefits for runners who participate in the HWA charity fund-raising drive?
All participants running for HWA will receive a special HWA runner’s pack! The confirmed items in the HWA runner's pack so far include:

New Balance Running Top
New Balance Race Belt
Running Eye Shades (NOT available in the market yet!!)

Additional negotiations are underway for other useful items in the HWA runner's pack!

The discounted bulk registration fee of S$50 per head is only applicable for group registration of 25 runners or more. As the SCSM registration is likely to close very soon due to overwhelming response, it is strongly recommended that you register for SCSM 06 as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

13) Okay, I am convinced. How do I contribute to the HWA charity fund-raising drive as a runner and fund-raiser?

Email the following details to hwascsm06@gmail.com
- Full name
- NRIC
- Gender
- Contact number
- Email address
- Preferred T-shirt size
- Which category (750m-Kids Dash, 10km, 21.1km, 42.195km) you signed up for in SCSM 06
- Referred by (e.g. sgrunners forum, trifam, or the nick of person in the forum)

The organisers will contact you with more details subsequently. Your particulars will be kept strictly confidential.

14) How do I contribute to the HWA charity fund-raising drive, even though I am not running in SCSM 06?

Send a cheque payable to "Handicaps Welfare Association" to the following address: Handicaps Welfare Association
16 Whampoa Drive
Singapore 327725

Please indicate "HWA SCSM06" at the back of the cheque.

Sponsor runners who have registered under this initiative by contributing to their pledge cards or appeal letters. Alternatively, you can also help canvass for donations from people you know using the pledge cards. Please contact us at hwascsm06@gmail.com if you wish to assist in this manner.

15) How will I know of any further updates on this HWA charity fund-raising drive?
More updates will be provided by the working committee in due course on the SGRunners website at http://www.sgrunners.com/. Email updates will also be sent out to runners who register to be part of this HWA charity fund-raising drive. A thread about this fund-raising initiative can be found at the SGRunners internet forum at the following url http://sgrunners.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2294. (Please note that you will need to register [at no cost] with SGRunners to view this forum.)

16) Who can I ask if I have any further queries?
You can direct any queries via email to hwascsm06@gmail.com, or send a private message (PM) to any member of the working group (as indicated in the answer to question 2) via the SGRunners.com forum. Thank you very much for considering HWA as a possible charity to support during SCSM 06!

Last Updated on 10 Sep 2006