More than S$75,000 raised at charity swim

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/more-than-s-75-000-raised/1411426.html

Despite the threat of the haze, a record 1,500 National Servicemen and their families swam more than 70,000 laps for charity on Sunday (Oct 12) at SAFRA’s Swim For Hope charity event.

They raised more than S$75,000, almost four times the amount raised last year, and the organisers are already thinking about how to expand the event next year.

Swimmers raise S$1 for every lap they swim at the event and the money comes from corporate and individual donations. The money will go towards needy NSmen and underprivileged children through three beneficiaries - the SAF Care Fund, Singapore Children's Society and Aquatics Heart & Hope.

This year's event drew about 200 naval divers and 50 national athletes, including swimmers and water polo players.

"This is a very good way for divers to contribute back to society,” said 31-year-old Captain Kovind Naidu, Officer Commanding of the Underwater Demolition Team at the Naval Diving Unit.

"We do this as part of training every day and there's no better way to do this using our fitness as what we do in training to contribute back to society."

The one who clocked the highest number of laps was a 40-year-old NSman who swims as a hobby. Vincent Koh swam 342 laps over six hours - breaking his own record of 306 laps last year.

“I want to be able to do better than the year before... I enjoy swimming and I like long-distance swimming... It motivates me to train, but it also motivates me to do charity work,” said Mr Koh, who is an intelligence specialist at the Ministry of Defence.