Information on the Republic Run 2011

Objectives of the Event

1. To promote a sporty and healthy lifestyle in Singaporeans especially the young;

2. To encourage acts of givings to the less fortunate by participating in the run; and

3. To encourage families to participate in a sporty event together to create family bonding.

Background of the Organiser – The Nam Hong Welfare Services Society

The Nam Hong Welfare Services Society was founded in the year 2007 with the main objective of running the Nam Hong Siang Theon Free Medical Centre and to be registered as a charitable organization. The free medical centre has been in operation since 2001, and provides free Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) services mainly to the community in Yishun, regardless of race and religion. Patients need only pay a registration fee of $2 per visit, and all medicine and treatments such as acupuncture and “Ba Kwan” are offered free of charge.

Since set-up, the clinic had served about 32000 patients yearly, who comes from all walks of life, religion, and races. Many people came from destinations as far as Tampines and Jurong to the medical centre in Yishun, and many from all races have complimented on the quality medical treatment provided by the medical centre.

The free medical centre prides itself as one of the first computerized TCM medical centre to have obtained ISO9000 certification and has a total of more than 26,000 registered patients up-to-date. It is also one of the few TCM centres in Singapore to have a TCM physiotherapy department that served patients suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and the after effects of stroke.

The free medical centre also organise free medical seminar on health issues on a quarterly basis with some seminars drawing up to 500 participants. The objective in organizing such talks is to raise the medical knowledge of the people in the community, which will help them to take preventive measures to precent certain illness, ailments, or health issues.

Since set up, the Free Medical Centre's main fundings come from patients, individual donors, and other charitable organizations. It is also highly supported by the grassroot leaders of Chong Pang and the MP of Sembawang GRC, Mr. K. Shanmugam.

Due to the hefty operation costs, the Free Medical Centre also regularly organises activities to raise funds. Every year, the free medical centre requires a budget of at least $500,000 which consists of the following major expenses:

- Medicine: 30% of total expenses
- Doctor, pharmacist and clinic assistants: 50% of total expenses
- Rent, utilities, insurance, seminars, fund raising activities and other misc: 20% of total expenses.

The Nam Hong Welfare Service Society is managed by an elected Management Committee. They are all professionals and volunteers and do not receive any remuneration for their services. The Free Medical Centre is fully computerized and is one of the first Medical Centres in Singapore to be ISO 9001 certified. The Management Committee strives to be totally transparent in their management, and all financial statements are available for download for scrutiny by the public at their website: www.nhwelfare.org.

Nam Hong Welfare Service Society does not receive any funding from the Community Chest of Singapore and depends solely on contribution from the public. Unlike many charities, the Nam Hong Welfare Service Society does not have a huge sinking fund. Currently, the Welfare Service Society’s bank deposits stands only at $120,000, only sufficient for its expenditure for the next 3 months. The committee members have to work really hard to raise funds each month.

The Welfare Service Society had recently attained their Charity Status with the Commissioner of Charities in February 2009 and that has certainly given them more avenues to source for funding. On top of continuing providing services to the needy, the Welfare Service Society is also hoping to raise sufficient reserves over the next two years so that they can provide more charitable services and build up some reserves.

Up to now, the Committee Members are still persevering. In fact, lost in confidence by the public in charities, they are working even harder sourcing for financial support so that the Free Medical Centre can continue providing free medical treatments to the old and needy. This is why the Charity Run is solely organized by the members themselves without engaging any external agencies, as they intend to use all funds raised for operating the Free Medical Centre. With the Charity Run, the Committee Members hope that the spirit of giving and providing selfless service will influence more people to come forward to contribute to this cause.