Date: 22 July 2018

• More than 8000 came together to rally support and raise funds for
  cancer patients & their families 
• A new record to be created in the Singapore Book of Records

Singapore, 22 July 2018: More than 8000 participants took part in the Singtel–Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer (RAC) 2018, raising over S$1.1 million for cancer patients and their families. Over the past 10 years, RAC has raised more than $8.2million to support Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) programmes and services. 

Guest-of-Honour Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, presented a cheque of $250,000 from Singtel to SCS, before flagging off the 15km run. 

Since the inception of RAC, Singtel Touching Lives Fund has contributed $2.25 million to support the educational, financial and social needs of children under the SCS Help the Children and Youth Programme. 

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Chairman of STLF and CEO of Consumer Singapore at Singtel, said “Singtel is proud to be the anchor sponsor of the Race Against Cancer since 2008. We are committed to supporting the vulnerable in our communities through our corporate social responsibility initiatives, and we are glad that the race is a key event to benefit SCS and its beneficiaries. Beyond raising funds for the fight against cancer, we are pleased that our partnership with SCS over the past 10 years has been able to provide children and youth with the dignity and support to cope and to live life to the fullest. I am greatly encouraged by my colleagues’ participation in this event, and this year we have our representative, International CEO Arthur Lang amongst 14 senior executives across Singapore taking part in the CEOs Against Cancer run.”

Mr Albert Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cancer Society said, “Marking its 10th year, RAC is one of the longest standing and largest charity runs in Singapore. SCS is deeply encouraged to see so many participants and volunteers stepping forward to support this race to save lives. We also thank our valued partner, Singtel, for standing by us in the fight against cancer over the years. As long as we continue to come together, no one needs to fight cancer alone.” 

Funds raised from RAC goes towards supporting SCS’ programmes and services. These include the Cancer Care Fund, Cancer Support Groups, Hospice Home Care, 2 *All figures stated in the press release are as of 19 July 2018 Cancer Rehabilitation Centre, Help the Children and Youth Programme, SCS Cancer Treatment Fund, and the SCS Welfare Aid. 

SCS also provides cancer screening services at no charge, and promotes cancer awareness and prevention through its public education and community outreach programmes islandwide. Last year, the society assisted some 1,900 needy cancer patients and reached out to more than 100,000 individuals through its cancer screening, as well as public educational and community outreach programmes. 

A Decade of Spearheading the Fight Against Cancer

To mark the 10th anniversary of RAC, SCS has planned a host of activities: 

1. “Most Number of Runners Wearing Purple Shoelaces”
   SCS will be attempting to make its way into the Singapore Book of Records for the “Most Number of Runners Wearing Purple Shoelaces”. Purple is the universal colour for cancer awareness. Laces will be in the race pack given to participants and they are invited to lace up, complete the race and be part of this historic event.
   
2. Exclusive 10th Anniversary Race Medal
   An exclusive 10th Anniversary Race Medal will be given to all participants (valid only for 10km and 15km run categories) after the race.
3. Virtual Run
   This year RAC is introducing the Virtual Run which will give an opportunity to those who are unable to participate on race day to run at their own time. Participants will have to complete the 10km run within any 1 week from 11 June to 31 July to receive an exclusive race medal and an e-certificate.
   
4. Silent Auction
   Another new feature at this year’s RAC is the auction of celebrities’ items online at https://sites.google.com/view/rac2018auction. Items such as Nathan Hartono’s autographed guitar and a T-shirt personally designed by Rebecca Lim will be auctioned off. All proceeds will go towards helping drive SCS’ programmes and services.
   
5. Formation of 10
   To commemorate the 10th anniversary participants will be invited to create a human formation in the shape of the number 10
   
   Remarkable Support from the Community
   RAC 2018 received encouraging and enthusiastic support from the community, including:
   

• 50 cancer patients and survivors from the various SCS support groups such as SCS New Voice Club (Nasopharyngeal Cancer), SCS Walnut Warriors (Prostate Cancer), SCS Colorectal Support Group (Colorectal Cancer), Lung Cancer Support Group 3 *All figures stated in the press release are as of 19 July 2018 (Lung Cancer), SCS Reach to Recovery (Breast Cancer) and SCS Bishana (Female Cancer Survivors)
  
• Last year, SCS had invited RAC participants to be Charity RACers, who besides declaring their fight against cancer, also raised funds for SCS. This year, 16 Charity RACers has raised S$18,905 so far through their fundraising pages which would end on 20 July at 1400 hours.
  
• 22 senior executives from companies across Singapore came together as ‘CEOs Against Cancer’ – a category that was introduced in 2015, to provide community leadership and raise funds from their business and personal network. Apart from participating in the race, they had also set up personal fundraising pages to collect donations totalling more than S$116,270 from their contacts.
  
  List of participants (in no particular order)
  Dr Ang Peng Tiam
  SCS Community Partnerships Chairman 

Mr Albert Lam

CEO, BeauteHub International Pte Ltd 

Mr Arthur Lang 

CEO for International Group, Singtel 

Mr Mahesh Natarajan 

General Manager, Abott Laboratories

Mr Ashish D. Pal
Managing Director & Zone Leader, Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei MSD, Pharma (Singapore)

Mr Brian Henry
Executive Director, Pharmacology MSD Pharma (Singapore)

Mr Choo Kin Poo
CEO, AsiaMedic Limited

Mr Choy Kem-Wah
Vice President, Singapore MFG Operations Thermo Fisher Scientific

Mr Chris McNamara
Executive Director, Finance, AP/Japan Commercial Services MSD Pharma (Singapore)

Mr How Ti Hwei
Country President, AstraZeneca Singapore Pte Ltd 

Mr Jean Drouffe
CEO, AXA Insurance Pte Ltd Mr Jimmy Ler Country Director, Logwin Air + Ocean Singapore Pte. Ltd

Mr Ooi Boon Hoe
CEO, Jurong Port Mr Patrick Smallcombe President, ONE J&J Southeast Asia

Mr Ravi Shastri
Vice President / General Manager, Southeast Asia & Taiwan Thermo Fisher Scientific

Mr Samuel Koh
Director, Market Access, Policy & Communications MSD Pharma (Singapore)

Mr You Fook Hin
Managing Director, Mott MacDonald Singapore Pte Ltd

Ms Ong Ai Hua
Company Group Chairman, Janssen Asia-Pacific Chef Heman Co-Founder & Chef Owner, IronSupperClub Pte Ltd

Ms Arlene Wherrett
VP & Managing Director, Sage Foundation

Mr Phua Tien Beng
CEO, Parkway Pantai Limited

Ms Teena Joy Pisarev
CEO, Icon SOC Pte Ltd 

• 775 volunteers 
• 149 Cancer survivor participants from 16 to 76 years old 
• 85 Corporates

• 57 corporate teams 
• 28 corporate sponsors 

For more information, please contact: 

Celia Au 

Corporate Affairs Manager

DID: 6421 5801

Mobile: 9668 9465

Email: celia_au@singaporecancersociety.org.sg

Kumudha Panneerchelvam 

Corporate Affairs Senior Executive

DID: 6436 5237 

Mobile: 9819 6589 

Email: kumudha_P@singaporecancersociety.org.sg 

About Singtel–Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer
Singtel is the title sponsor of Race Against Cancer, an annual fundraising event organised by Singapore Cancer Society. Proceeds from this event go towards supporting SCS’s cancer treatment subsidies, welfare assistance, cancer rehabilitation, hospice care, cancer screenings, research and public education initiatives. 

A donation of $200,000 in 2009 kick-started the SCS Help the Children and Youth Programme, to help children and youths whose lives have been affected by cancer. Since 2014, Singtel has increased its contribution to $250,000 annually in support of the programme. The funds are used for home tuition services, school allowance grants, annual book prizes, youth camps and family engagement activities. 

In addition, Singtel provides in-kind sponsorship for the race pack and prizes for the Race Against Cancer, and also helps to promote participation by publicising the event at Singtel shops and media outlets such as Singtel TV. 

About Singapore Cancer Society (www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg) 

Established in 1964, Singapore Cancer Society is a self-funded voluntary welfare organisation which provides patient care services to needy cancer patients through its welfare, hospice home care, cancer treatment subsidy and rehabilitation support programmes. In addition, the Society also provides free cancer screening services and promotes cancer awareness and prevention through its public education and community outreach programmes