Ride for Hope and Screen for Life 2009

Contributed by Benjamin Tan

Two groups of medical students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine will take time away from their undergraduate studies on August 29 to do their bit for charity. They will cycle with wheelchair athlete Dr William Tan to raise funds for needy patients as well as conduct a free public health screening.

One group will join Dr Wiliam Tan on a cycling expedition around Singapore. The other will focus on conducting a health screening for the public. Both endeavours will be flagged off in the morning by Health Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan at the Ang Mo Kio Hub. The cyclists will finish their ride that evening at the National University Hospital.

Ride for Hope 2009, as the students' cycling event is called, will see about 40 cyclists make pit stops at six public hospitals, whose patients will benefit from the $100,000 that the cyclists aim to raise through sponsors and well-wishers.

"As doctors-in-training, we recognise the importance of providing holistic care for our patients, including addressing their psychosocial, medical and financial concerns. Through this event, we hope to raise funds to alleviate the financial difficulties of needy patients who are Singaporeans and Permanent Residents at six public hospitals in Singapore," said Perry Liew, Medical Society Special Projects Director.

In planning for the event, the students, comprising a mix of second, third and fourth year medical undergraduates, benefited from the experience of Dr William Tan, who is fighting chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells (CLL).

"When I was first diagnosed with CLL in April 2009, I was both frustrated and devastated as I was not prepared to overcome this additional stumbling block in my life. Through the course of my treatment, I got to know other cancer patients who battled cancer, taking in their stride the various medical, social, psychosocial and financial challenges which they braved through and overcome. Together with the medical students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, we hope to inspire and bring hope to more needy patients," he said.

How can the general public help?
A. Public Appeal for Funds
If you would like to support this cause by making a donation, please send a cheque, to be made payable to “Medical Society, National University of Singapore". Please indicate "Ride for Hope" on the reverse side of the cheque.

Mailing Address:
NUS Medical Society
c/o The Dean's Office
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore
10 Medical Drive
Singapore 11759

B. Supporting the cyclists during the event
If you would like to support Dr William Tan and his team of cyclists on the expedition day, you can join them at the AMK Hub on 29 August 2009, 10.00am, where the flag-off takes place. In conjunction with Ride for Hope 2009, a Public Health Screening Programme will also be held, offering free health screenings and providing free consultations for the public. You are encouraged to participate in this health screening as well.

Alternatively, the cyclists will also be making stops at the six public hospitals, so do come down and lend them your support! Please visit www.rideforhope09.blogspot.com for more details, or email them at enquiry.rideforhope@gmail.com.