Losing a loved one to cancer is never easy. In the lead to Darren’s O-levels, his grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away a few months later. The news came as a huge blow for him. His grandmother held a special place in his heart.

“She meant so much to me. The hardest part was not knowing if she would get better,” he shared.  

That same year, his best friend was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. Due to early detection and treatment, his friend recovered and recently celebrated his fifth year of remission.

These two personal experiences shaped Darren’s worldview and the way he values life. Now 23, and having witnessed the impact of cancer, Darren is lending a hand to help the less fortunate. “Witnessing first-hand how one’s life can be so easily cut short, and considering the costs involved in treating cancer, I feel that there is so much that can be done to help lessen the load,” he said.

Being a vivid endurance sports enthusiast, giving back through sports appealed to him as the best way to help the less fortunate. He took his first step in supporting those affected by cancer at Race Against Cancer 2012. Coming on board as an SCS Charity Athlete in November 2015, he is dedicating all the miles he clocks at running events to raising funds for Singapore Cancer Society.

Darren encourages all patients and survivors to “be strong and know that you are not alone. People all around are here to support and help you in the fight against cancer!”

Learn more about Darren and his cause.

Make your runs count. Dedicate your next run to those in the fight against cancer. Learn more about the SCS Charity Athlete programme.