Ride for Rations 2017 – A Recollection
As the months go by …….
………. in this season of festivities, let’s recap the year at Bike-Aid (Singapore) and plans for 2018. It started with the official launch of the Sunlove Study Spot in Chai Chee on 7th January. Since the soft opening in September 2016, 40 kids have registered with the center. With the focus on learning in the early years, kids had an amazing time at the graduation ceremony of SCRATCH on 20th May (a program that develops children’s creative talents).
To spur them on, a voluntary body called Circle of Friends, organized a hands-on workshop in June on baking and team building. A visit to the Science Center by a team of volunteers capped it all.
In the spirit of building a harmonious society, Bike Aid responded triumphantly to a request from Jamiyah Singapore to celebrate its 85th anniversary of providing various welfare services. 85 riders rode 45 km with an entourage of vintage cars on 14th May.
In a moment of nostalgia, another group of riders took to the roads on 15th July to celebrate Bike Aid’s Silver Jubilee. A very special cake and birthday song in the driveway of a founder member said it all!
Bike Aid’s staple – the monthly distribution of rations to the needy at Chai Chee, Marsiling and Hougang – remained in lock step with volunteers every last weekend of the month. Without fail! Interviews with beneficiaries the likes of Mr Chong, Pak Ali and Nancy and articles on our Bike Aid’s facebook brought the significance of the rations closer to heart.
What is worthy of our best should never be stopped. It was in that spirit and commitment of continuity that Ride for Rations 2017 was launched in January. With early registrations, briefings started in March followed closely with training and assessment rides. A visit to Sunlove Home in April gave participants a close up of the plight of the needy while serving out lunch to residents brought smiles to the giver and recipient.
RFR 2017 set another milestone with $600,000 raised. The launch of new logo showed a renewed emphasis on “doing and giving”. Plans are now being fined tuned for greater engagement with the needy. This includes proposals to address the emotional state of the beneficiaries through interaction with volunteers and periodic outings with them.
It is not lost on Bike Aid that our volunteers too have concerns! In response to feedback, a new route from Kuantan along the east coast of West Malaysia is being considered for Ride for Ration 2018. Come September, we will be riding along some of the most scenic routes. Till then …… season’s greetings to all our friends at Bike Aid and our beneficiaries.