NUS MEDICAL STUDENTS CYCLE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NEEDY PATIENTS AND CONDUCT FREE PUBLIC HEALTH SCREENING
Ride for Hope 2009
Two groups of medical students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine took time away from their undergraduate studies on 29 and 30 August 2009 to do their bit for charity and serve the public.
One group of students swopped books for bicycles and joined wheelchair athlete Dr Wiliam Tan on an 80km cycling expedition to raise funds for the needy patients of seven public healthcare institutions. The other group conducted free public health screening services. Both endeavours were flagged off by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan at the AMK Hub on 29 August 2009.
[Caption] L-R: Dr William Tan, A/Prof Koh Dow Roon (Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Education, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine), Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Prof John Wong (Dean, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine), Mr Benedict Goh (Director for Development, NUHS).
Ride for Hope 2009, as the students' cycling event is called, saw about 40 cyclists making pit stops at the six public hospitals on 29 August 2009. The cyclists aim to raise $100,000 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 seven public healthcare institutions in Singapore. Thus far, we have managed to raise about $67,000 and hope to achieve our target of $100,000" said Perry Liew, Medical Society Special Projects Director.
[Caption] Dr William Tan is all ready for the Ride for Hope 2009 to kickoff.
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," said Dr Tan, who covered a "symbolic distance in solidarity with the students."
[Caption] About 40 cyclists from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine rode off to raise $100,000.
Ending their ride in the evening at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the cyclists were warmly welcomed by Associate Professor Benjamin Ong, NUHS Chief Executive; Prof John Wong, NUHS Deputy Chief Executive and Dean, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine as well as fellow schoolmates, friends and staff.
[Caption] The last stop of the Ride for Hope 2009 journey, where the cyclists and Dr William Tan are received by A/Prof Benjamin Ong, NUHS Chief Executive (second from right).
Screen for Life 2009
While some of their schoolmates set out on two wheels to raise funds for needy patients, their counterparts wielded stethoscopes and other instruments of their training to conduct health checks for the public. They were joined by nursing students from the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (part of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine) for the Public Health Screening (PHS) 2009. This took place as part of the National Day celebrations, under the theme of "Come together - Reaching Out, Reaching Up". PHS is part of a series of events organised in line with the National Day Parade itself. PHS 2009 was held at AMK Hub on 29 and 30 August 2009.
[Caption] Students from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing do their part in conducting health checks for the community.
"As future doctors, it is our duty to help fellow Singaporeans lead years of healthy life. We believe strongly that preventive healthcare is the key to healthy living." commented Tan Ze Ying, Co-Project Director, Public Health Screening 2009. "We are glad that this year's public health screening has benefitted over 2,000 members of the public. Over the next 3 months, we will be following up with phone calls to participants whose screening results have turned up abnormal to urge them to seek early treatment," added Liang Hanlong, Co-Project Director, Public Health Screening 2009.
The event underlined the call for a healthy lifestyle, as well as provides free health screenings at a nationwide level. Targeted at early detection of chronic diseases to prevent death and morbidity, PHS aims to increase public awareness of health issues by providing free basic health screening services. Participants aged above 21 years benefited from the free screening, consisting of a health screening questionnaire, screening of their Body Mass Index, blood glucose and blood pressure as well as free consultations by medical doctors and registered nurses. Participants also benefitted from health education booths set up by the Diabetic Society of Singapore, Singapore Heart Foundation, Singapore Cancer Society and Health Promotion Board.
[Caption] The Public Health Screening at the Ang Mo Kio Hub was very well-received.
The importance of early detection, prevention and treatment of diseases was emphasized by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan who officiated the flag-off ceremony for both events. "Last Friday, I attended the wake of a friend, who found out too late that he had stomach cancer. He's just about my age. He is not old but he was found to be in the fourth stage of cancer just a few months ago. So screening is important." recounted Minister Khaw.
Lauding the students for their effort, Professor John Wong, NUHS Deputy Chief Executive and Dean of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine said, "The effort and work put in by the students in organising the Ride for Hope 2009 and Public Health Screening 2009 is most admirable. It is heartening to note that as future doctors they have shown keen interest in serving the community and encouraging Singaporeans to lead healthy lifestyles."
Public Appeal for Funds
If you would like to support the Ride for Hope cause by making a donation, please send a cheque, made payable to the "Medical Society, National University of Singapore", to the address below. Please indicate "Ride for Hope" as well as your name and a return address on the reverse side of the cheque so that we can acknowledge your contribution.
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 117597 |
