Some 9,000 turn up at Yellow Ribbon run

SINGAPORE - For Mr Chan Meng Hui, there is no turning back. He completed 10km in an hour and 49 minutes at the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run yesterday and is pushing ahead for a bigger prize - his 100th marathon at the end of the year.

Mr Chan is 84 this year.

"I intend to run till I drop dead, I want to die when I am running and not in the hospital," said a spirited Mr Chan, who started running when he was about 55 to improve his health.

Mr Chan joined about 9,000 participants at the run, which raised $130,000 for former offenders, part of which will go towards education bursaries for them.

Yesterday, some ran 10km routes while others did a 6km run, but all crossed finishing lines at the Changi Prison Complex.

Mr Alson Wang, 29, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, completed a 6km stretch. He was joined by volunteers from Runninghour, a group that organises sports activities with intellectually or physically-challenged individuals.

"'Running' has made me stronger and I get to go out and meet friends I would not have otherwise met," he said.

Mr Shariff Abdullah, 45, also known as the SG Blade Runner, ran 10km with an 8kg backpack.

The amputee, who has a prosthetic left leg, is training for an Everest marathon next year. "I tell myself 'Never give up, never ever to give up'. My left leg might be gone, but I can still run marathons to inspire people," he said.

The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu.

Ms Fu, who is also Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources as well as Foreign Affairs, ran the 6km route.

"Life is very much like a race. When we fall, we hope someone helps us up," she said. "So it is for ex-offenders who should be given second chances," she added.

This article was first published on Sep15, 2014.
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