Have you heard about RML 2010?

Well, it was held on the 31 January 2010, Sunday, at Dalbergia Green, East Coast Park! Felt that you missed something out?

Fret not! This blog space introduces RML 2010, contains snippets from the interviews with the RML core committee, and details of what happened that day! =] If you participated in the run that day, you might find some pictures of yourself here! One of the participants who ran the 6km competitive race wrote an article too.

So stayed tuned to this space for more stuff, all coming your way! =]

Here's how RML 2010 came about!

RML 2010 was conceptualised by a group of compassionate youth in action (cya) students from the School of Humanities, Ngee Ann Polytechnic to achieve three aims.

Firstly, RML student leaders who are themselves avid runners, felt strongly that they wanted to organise a run event that promotes healthy living to young people and families from both Ngee Ann Polytechnic as well as members of the public.

Secondly, most runs, especially the competitive runs in Singapore are catered to the able-bodied runners.

Students from our School of Humanities, motivated by their course of studies such as Diploma in Psychology and Community Services, wanted to apply what they have learnt in school by advocating for social inclusion through involving people with disability in the run.

Thirdly, conceptualised during the economic downturn in the earlier part of 2009, the RML student team expressed strong empathy for low-income students whose families have difficulties making ends meet. Therefore, they conducted ground research and found a need to raise lunch money for students from low-income families.

Here's more about RML 2010!

Compassionate Youths in Action (CYA) was formed less than 2 years ago, and consists of a body of students in the School of Humanities, Ngee Ann Polytechnic. CYA was formed to serve as a platform where students could initiate projects for the benefit of our community.

RML 2010 is a CYA student-initiated project. In March 2009, two students, Mr. Yap Feng Kai and Mr. Lim Jian Yang, students of the Diploma of Psychology and Community Services (PCS), started leading the RML 2010 committee in organizing this event. Being runners themselves, they brought up the idea of having a charity run and proceeded on with it, with the assistance of lecturers and the student-in-charge of CYA, Jean Yeo.

Students from the various diplomas in Ngee Ann Polytechnic have stepped up to join this cause by volunteering themselves or participating in this event.

As the RML team realized the lack of social inclusion in regards to charity runs in Singapore, RML 2010 aimed to include people with disabilities in this run. This seems well in-line with their diploma’s and academic school’s intent of being person-centered.

The person-centeredness and compassion of the students involved in the RML team made this run like no other. Wanting to make this run suitable for anyone regardless of age and physical fitness, RML 2010 was designed to consist of 3 run categories namely, 1.4km kids run, 3km community run and 6km competitive run. Kids can run with their parents in the 1.4km kids run, while those who want to run for leisure purposes can participate in the 3km community run. Those who love running can join the 6km competitive run and win themselves prizes! The consideration put into RML 2010 is greatly admired.

On 31 January 2010, some 1700 runners came from places all over Singapore to take part in this run. The first flag-off was at 8am, with the Guest-Of-Honor, Dr. Michael Palmer starting off the 6km competitive run for males.

The event officially ended at around 9.30am, with magic shows as well as puppet shows to entertain the runners after the run.

RML 2010 was a successful one, attracting more than 1700 runners from all over Singapore; all of them running for the students from the Students’ Advisory Centre. Their participation raised more than $50,000 for these students from low-income families as of 29 January 2010.



Here's what one of the participants had to say!

On 31st January 2010, over 1700 participants congregated at the East Coast park, excitedly awaiting for the warm up exercise and the commencement of the run. I was no exception. With the upbeat music and the cool weather, it was the perfect time to jog.

However, this was not a normal mass run like any others you've seen before. Waiting around the starting line are students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and friends from AWWA Teach Me Services, whose clients have disabilities ranging from visual to mobility impairments due to conditions such as cerebral palsy. With the passionate purpose of helping students from low-income families and embracing people with disabilities, Ngee Ann Polytechnic students from the School of Humanities came together to carry out this ambitious, yet meaningful project.

This run has put aside many differences and brought together a sense of community spirit. Despite differences in physical abilities, stamina and physique, we saw people running together, cheering each other on, and a strong sense of support from the students participating in this run. While running the arduous journey of 6km, I came across students pushing the wheelchairs of people with mobility impairments, and even students guiding the people with visual impairment. It was obvious that everyone was having a fun time knowing and bonding with one another, and were spurring each other on to finish the race.

After the run, I met my friend, Jun Xiong, who has had cerebral palsy since young. He was accompanied by some of my classmates, who chatted and walked alongside him during the 3km race. It was heartening to see them laughing and chatting while cooling down, enjoying the performances by our schoolmates.

Well, the students in the planning committee did a tremendous job of bringing this event to great success. Not only were we all able to sweat it out and exercise, but it brought people together despite our differences. And that, is the most valuable experience anyone can get!



And here's what one of our photographers have to say!

All in all, about 200 student volunteers helped out at the event. Close to half of them stayed overnight in school and another few stayed overnight as East Coast Park to prepare for the event.

I was busy capturing what the students in NP were doing overnight. We first had a one hour briefing, in which we collected our respective t-shirts, emergency contact numbers and an energising drink - 7up Revive. Lights out was at 11.30pm, but since we had an early morning rehearsal, many of us decided we might as well stay up till then.

So some went to get supper at the nearby McDonald's at King Albert Park, including me. Some entertained themselves by chatting, using their laptops and listening to music. A couple of groups played cards, while another handful of us also hung out on the school field, with the moon shining its awesome light upon us, and the clouds left its thumbprint in the sky [See the Photo Album]. The human resource team was busy at work with administration throughout the night. So if any of us did get sleep, it would have only been a couple of hours.

The part I liked most about this event was how the event flowed, with everyone hard at work despite their fatigue. The committee was definitely a remarkable one. Although the event only lasted two hours, but it was probably one of the most effort-paid-off couple of hours in many of the students' lives. From having many sleepless nights to get this event up and running to setting up sign posts and banners so early in the morning; from being slightly short-handed at the water points, to reshuffling and deploying as many more people to help out.

This event is by far one of the most momentous milestones Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Humanities has reached.

Behind the scenes

Preparation

Pre-run

Performances

Event snaps

1.4km Kids run

3km Community run

6km competitive run

Post-run

Prize-giving ceremony

Ngee Ann Polytechnic | School of Humanities
A student-initiated project by Compassionate Youths in Action

All photos and text copyright (c) NP HMS 2010
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