• Annual walking initiative rallies the community to take the step forward to stay healthy and give back to needy families in South East District over 13 weeks
• FairPrice extends sponsorship to over 7,000 underprivileged families, targeting to donate up to 500,000 bowls of white and brown rice and 50,000 bowls of instant oats worth S$100,000

Singapore, 28 October 2021 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) and South East Community Development Council (South East CDC) today launched the 13th edition of its annual FairPrice Walk for Rice+ @ South East to lift the spirit of giving back while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. To mark its 13th year, the Walk for Rice+ @ South East will run for 13 weeks, starting from today till 20 January 2022. FairPrice and South East CDC also announced the extension of their partnership for another three years.

The long-running initiative aims to motivate more Singaporeans to walk or run and log in their mileage for a good cause. Since its inauguration in 2009, the FairPrice Walk for Rice+ @ South East initiative has garnered more interest over the years and has observed an increase in its total mileage from 61,583 kilometres in 2009 to more than tenfold with 683,771 kilometres in 2020. This also represented a 53 per cent increase from the mileage in 2019. 

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual walking charity initiative was conducted virtually where members of the public are encouraged to participate while ensuring safe distancing measures. The same virtual format will be adopted this year where participants can log in their mileage on the website https://go.gov.sg/wfr2021. In previous years, group walks would be organised as part of the initiative. While 2020 saw fewer participants than the preceding year, many were logging in higher mileage. For example, the highest mileage clocked by one individual participant was over 80 kilometres.  

Mr Fahmi Aliman, Mayor of South East District, commented, “As the community picks ourselves up, gets protected via vaccines, we need to take steps towards living with Covid-19. Our strength and resilience is what we can call upon to ensure a thriving Singapore and that the more vulnerable do not get left behind. The FairPrice Walk for Rice+ @ South East not only empowers us to uplift the lives and bring cheer to the most vulnerable among us, but also encourages us to stay active. I urge you to join me in running or walking, to keep ourselves healthy while helping the vulnerable.”

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group Chief Executive Officer, FairPrice Group, said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges disrupting the lives of many, especially the less fortunate within our community. Through initiatives such as the FairPrice Walk for Rice+ @ South East, we remain committed in reaching out to extend a helping hand to those in need during these difficult times. We encourage the community to join us in fostering a culture of giving while staying active.”

For every 300 metres of walking or running logged by participants between 28 October 2021 to 20 January 2022, or each participating product sold at FairPrice stores island-wide between 28 October to 10 November 2021, FairPrice Foundation will donate one bowl of white rice, one bowl of brown rice and one bowl of instant oats towards the campaign. FairPrice Foundation has pledged to raise 500,000 bowls of white rice and brown rice, and 50,000 bowls of instant oats worth S$100,000, which will benefit over 7,000 needy families in the South-East District. 

FairPrice Walk for Rice+ @ South East is conceptualised under the South East 5E Approach. 5E involves using an Easy and Enjoyable activity that Encourages widespread participation within the community which Earns sponsorships for the needy. In doing so, South East CDC also Enlarges the value of giving and thus enabling the CDC to Enhance community ownership and spirit.

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