10 June 2002
www.channelnewsasia.com 
This article printed from ChannelNewsAsia.com
Date :10 June 2002 1849 hrs (SST) 1049 hrs (GMT)
Volunteer cyclists raise $300,000
for Children’s Cancer Foundation
By Julia Ng
Going the extra mile for charity.
Well, 35 cyclists pedalled 1,100-km to raise money for cancer-stricken children.
For seven days, the cyclists – 29 from Singapore and six from Thailand – braved scorching sun, rough terrain and sheer exhaustion.
Cycling up to 10 hours a day, they even missed the World Cup action on their trek from Hatyai to Singapore.
Dr William Tan, Bike Aid Singapore volunteer, said: “The journey from Hatyai, there are a lot of hills and pot holes as well. They were 28 punctures among all of us.
“A number of cyclists also fell off the road, they sustained some bruises. But they are very courageous, they bounced back and continued.”
For many of the Bike Aid Singapore members, this is not the first time they have cycled all the way back from Hatyai to raise money.
But there were some first-timers, like 72-year-old British-born Bob Usher.
The oldest cyclist in the group, he found the going tough.
Mr Usher, Thai biking volunteer, said: “We had to get up at 4.30 in the morning, jump on our bicycle, and try and grab some food on the way so that we can get here on time.”
But it was all for a good cause – to raise some $300,000 for the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF).
Their efforts earned them the praise of both President S.R. Nathan and CCF patron, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee.
CCF will use the money to support cancer-stricken children and their families.
There are 100 new cases of childhood cancer each year.