24-hr run raises 117 free surgeries for eye cataract sufferers

SINGAPORE - A total of 117 needy elderly cataract sufferers will have their cataract surgeries sponsored by Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH), thanks to participants in the hospital's 'Run For Cover' event.

Runners who took part in the 24-hour treadmill challenge took turns to run non-stop on the treadmill to clock a total distance of 2,763.26 km. Mount Elizabeth Hospital promised to perform one free cataract surgery for the needy elderly for every 30 km clocked at the event.

There were a total of 80 competitive runners from 10 teams, ranging from ultra-marathoners to weekend joggers.

Among the competitors, Team DTCC claimed top spot, clocking in the longest distance of 318.79 km. Each of its members ran away with $5,000 worth of free healthcare insurance coverage, which will insure them up to $700,000 per year for the next 10 years.

Another 738.10 km - or 24 cataract surgeries - were also contributed by over 200 runners on public treadmills.

ljessica@sph.com.sg