The Ju Eng
Home for Senior Citizens, a home served by FFTH’s bread
runs, organised a walkathon on 9 October 2004 and invited FFTH
founder Christine Laimer to be the Guest of Honour. My family
joined in for the walk along with FFTH staffers Jasmine, Carol,
and several other FFTH volunteers. I took it upon myself to be
the "official" photographer for FFTH and went about
taking pictures the pictures you see here. A camera in hand provides
many great "passports" to get nearer to any subject!
The walkathon attracted a crowd of more than 400 people. The Ju
Eng staff were quite an international group, probably the most
colourfully dressed, each in his/her own national costumes! One
Army group which had adopted the Home since 1998 was there to
serve as road marshals and also donated money to the Home. There
was another big group of people from the Singapore Flying Club
and interestingly, I met two old friends from the Goethe Institut!
What a small world!
There was also a group of
cheerleaders who did a catchy number and a group of the home’s
residents presented a punchy a rendition with "dumb bells".
Everyone was in good spirits. With blue skies and fresh air, we
were all were raring to go. Christine flagged off the walk with
a resounding push of the air-horn. It was a pleasant walk along
Seletar East Farmway 4, passing the Animal Resort and a Chinese
temple before returning to Farmway 4. Except for a few stray dogs
which the Army boys kept them a bay, it was a pleasant walk. There
were birds and butterflies flying around and I spotted some durians
waiting to ripen.
The whole contingent probably
stretched almost one and a half kilometres as we walked and caught
up with old friends, while making some new ones. The Chairman
of the Ju Eng Home, Mr Lawrence Ang, was most friendly, and chatted
with everyone. All too soon, we were back to where we had begun
and each of us exchanged our participant number for a goody bag.
Then the lucky draw began. It was almost like a 1 in 2 chance
of getting prizes as there were so many!
Most of the residents of
the Ju Eng Home are bed-ridden. The more active ones joined in
the singing, performing for all of us, and enjoying the din. In
his speech, Mr Ang thanked FFTH for its generous contributions
to the home, citing how everyday without fail, FFTH brings bread
to the home. As for all of us at FFTH, I think the satisfaction
lies in having our hard work recognised and appreciated. So, folks,
well done for your tireless work each morning and evening, bringing
food to the people who need it most.
Keep it up! As the Japanese say, Ganbatte! (^^)
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