900 South Woodlands Drive #06-01 Woodlands Civic Centre 730900 Tel: 6248 5566 Fax: 6219 1176

MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY

8 January 2020

To News Editor

RALLYING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FUNDRAISER TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH VULNERABLE RESIDENTS

North West CDC rallies residents to walk 20 million collective steps to raise funds for timely and flexible assistance ______

The North West Community Development Council (CDC) is rallying partners and residents in a district-wide fundraising campaign – North West Steps of Solidarity – to raise funds to help vulnerable residents in the District. The funds raised will go towards the CDC’s suite of local assistance schemes, which over the years, has helped various profiles of residents to uplift themselves and overcome their challenges. In anticipation of the impact of COVID-19, the CDC has embarked on the campaign now, to pro-actively increase the pool of available funds.

2 The campaign aims to inspire a sense of resilience, unity and optimism in the community. Participants are challenged to collectively achieve the campaign target of 20 million steps, as a statement of support for and solidarity with those affected by the pandemic. In tandem with the clocking of steps, the CDC is also calling for corporate partners and residents to step up as new donors, to provide further assistance to residents of various profiles who are facing challenging situations.

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3 The campaign will be launched by Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District, on 10 January 2021 at Yew Tee Community Club. He will be joined by around 30 fellow brisk walkers, comprising the campaign’s Organising Committee Chairmen and North West Brisk Walking Club members, who will walk in groups of no larger than eight. Each participant will aim to achieve around 2,000 steps over a 2km route (programme for the launch event is available at Annex A).

4 Speaking about the impetus of the campaign, Mr Alex Yam says, “North West Steps of Solidarity is a simple platform bringing everyone together for a meaningful and timely cause. Each step forward is therefore an act of solidarity with fellow residents. Through this, the funds raised will provide the CDC with greater flexibility to render urgent and timely support to residents, this is so that we leave no one behind.”

5 Funds raised from the North West Steps of Solidarity campaign will enable the CDC to continue providing help to its key target groups, which it has been serving over the years through its suite of Local Assistance Schemes. The groups include less privileged students, families and seniors, who each have varying needs and circumstances. One of the key schemes that these vulnerable groups benefit from is the North West Food Aid Fund, where around 15,000 residents receive help annually through: (i) delivery of cooked meals; (ii) food rations; and (iii) food vouchers. The number of residents requiring help under the Food Aid Fund has doubled during the pandemic.

6 Partners and residents can join the campaign through the 42Race mobile application1, where they can opt to achieve varying tiers of steps, from the lowest 20,000 steps, up to the highest 200,000 steps. From 10 January 2021 to 28 February 2021, participants can walk on their own, or together in groups, in compliance with prevailing safe management measures. To get the campaign off to a strong start, the CDC, which has the largest brisk walking network in Singapore, has galvanised its Brisk Walking Club members to participate in the campaign.

7 Corporate partners and individuals may also contribute to the campaign through the 42Race mobile application, which contains an option to donate via PayNow. Donors could also donate by contacting the CDC via email.

1 A detailed guide on how to sync steps from personal wearables to the app can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qCcMmsNk2C94aLB--kLMX56oV1Qvr4DA/view 2 8 North West Steps of Solidarity will be open for public registration from 10 January 2021, by downloading the 42Race mobile application at the Google Play Store or Apple AppStore, or by visiting this link: https://web.42race.com/race-bundle/nwsos.

Media Invite

1 North West CDC cordially invites you and your photographer / camera crew to the launch of North West Steps of Solidarity. A Media doorstop with Mayor Mr Alex Yam could be arranged on request.

2 The details of the event are as follows:

Launch of North West Steps of Solidarity Date : Sunday, 10 January 2021 Media Arrival : 7.30 am Start Point : Yew Tee Community Club (20 Street 52, Singapore 689286)

Please RSVP Ms Clare Chua at HP: 9880 1153, email: [email protected] by Saturday, 9 January 2021, 5.00pm.

Enclosed: Annex A – Programme for Launch of North West Steps of Solidarity

About North West Community Development Council (CDC)

The Community Development Councils (CDCs) were established to build a tightly-knit, compassionate and self-reliant community.

North West CDC works closely with various community and corporate partners to strengthen Singapore’s social fabric; and encourages the more able and successful to come forward to help the less successful, and to foster greater sense of community ownership and self-help among the residents.

We strive to align our activities and efforts with our mission: (a) Assisting the needy To help the less fortunate through local assistance programmes (b) Bonding the people To bond the community through projects & programmes to bring them closer to one another (c) Connecting the community To develop strategic partnerships with corporate and community partners to better serve our residents

The North West District comprises Holland- GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Nee Soon GRC, GRC and SMC.

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3 Annex A

LAUNCH OF NORTH WEST STEPS OF SOLIDARITY ON SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 2021 AT YEW TEE COMMUNITY CLUB ______

7.30am Arrival of Media

7.55am Arrival of Guest-of-Honour Mr Alex Yam Mayor of North West District

Welcome Address by Mayor Mr Alex Yam

8.05am Launch of North West Steps of Solidarity Group Photo-Taking

Commencement of 2km brisk walk

8.45am Media Doorstop (on request)

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