Date: 8 December 2024
SPEECH BY SINGAPORE CANCER SOCIETY (SCS) CHAIRMAN, MR LEE MENG TAT
AT THE SCS 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, 8 DEC 2024, 6.50PM
A very good evening to Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Seah Kian Peng, our cancer warriors
and families, and all our partners, volunteers, and friends of the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS).
Welcome to this special night as we celebrate 60 years of making a difference. Earlier today, we had the privilege of presenting the first SCS Aspiration Awards to organisations and individuals who have gone over and beyond in giving to the cancer cause. Their contributions capture the spirit of service that has been at the heart of our work from day one. was founded in 1964 by a small group of public-spirited individuals determined to fight cancer, which was then Singapore’s top killer. Our beginnings were humble – our first office was a borrowed space in a library at Singapore General Hospital. Yet, even then, SCS was at the cutting edge of patient-centred support. We introduced free Pap smears in 1969 and pioneered Southeast Asia’s first mastectomy support programme in the 1970s, which lives on today as our Reach for Recovery support group.
From a borrowed office to a leading cancer charity, SCS has grown tremendously thanks to your encouragement. Times have also changed. With advances in medicine and changing mindsets, cancer is no longer a death sentence or a taboo. Tonight, we celebrate life and the resilience of our cancer warriors.
Take Madam Foziah Yeon, for example. After breast cancer treatment in 2021, her muscles were so weak she struggled to hold a cup of water. But with SCS’s rehabilitation support, she regained strength and returned to her passion – gardening. This August, she was part of a team which created a stunning garden display at the Singapore Garden Festival, even winning an award. Stories like hers drive SCS to do more. A key priority is expanding rehabilitation services, as rehab can improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects. Since 2023, SCS has
launched two community rehab centres – one at the National Cancer Centre, Singapore (NCCS) building in Outram and another at National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) at NUH Medical Centre to serve patients in the West. This year, we also opened Singapore’s first tertiary rehab centre at the NCCS building to serve newly diagnosed patients before and during treatment. Moving forward, we will make rehab even more accessible, in hospitals, community care settings, and local communities. As we look to the future, I’d like to warmly welcome Mr. Tan Kwang Cheak who will step up as our new CEO in February. Kwang Cheak brings 25 years of experience in the public service, private, and healthcare sectors. He last served as CEO of the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC) for six years, where he built up the organisation, doubled its manpower and scope of work, and drove strategies to empower seniors and clients. I have no doubt he will take SCS to new heights.
I would also like to thank Mr. Albert Ching for his remarkable contributions over the last 12 years. Albert’s visionary leadership saw SCS expand its services and forge strategic partnerships with key cancer institutions. Thank you, Albert, for your leadership, and thank you, Kwang Cheak, for taking up the baton in SCS’s next lap.
As we celebrate 60 years, I want to say that this milestone isn’t just about SCS. It’s about all of you — the warriors who fight, the families who support, and the community that rallies around the cause. Together, we must ensure this fight continues. One way is through taking part in our annual Singapore Cancer Society-TalkMed Relay For Life on 8-9 March 2025. Registration for this overnight relay is now open at the website www.scsrelayforlife.sg and I encourage everyone to join us. Funds raised will go directly into supporting vital programmes and services like rehabilitation care.
Another way to make a difference is by leaving a legacy of love. Legacy giving isn’t just
about donations or bequests – it’s also about actions we take during our lifetime to make a difference, whether by championing the cause, or honouring loved ones who have passed from cancer. To help you explore this, SCS has created The Gift of Love, a resource which you can find in your goodie bag. It will guide you in making a lasting impact. We also warmly invite you to our Legacy Giving event on Valentine’s Day next year (February 14, 2025), at SCS headquarters to learn more.
As we celebrate tonight, let’s take a moment to honour each of you—our cancer warriors and caregivers. Your courage inspires all of us and reminds us that no one fights this battle alone. Enjoy the evening, and let’s continue to stand strong, together. Thank you.