Highlights

• 2,000 seniors to get active and walk for a good cause at the district’s Active Ageing Roadshow
• Event kicks off this year’s Active Ageing Roadshows, which is part of Active Ageing Festival 2009
• Event also concludes the initiative to encourage residents to contribute to the needy through simple expression of volunteerism: NTUC FairPrice and its business partners donate 500,000 bowls of rice for 5,000 needy families

Two thousand active senior heartlanders of South East District will directly benefit the less fortunate when they take part in the finale walk for the NTUC FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East campaign. The 1.5km walk, held in conjunction with Council for Third Age’s (C3A) Active Ageing Roadshow @ South East and Silver Sportz Extravaganza, will mark the end of the Walk for Rice campaign which has seen over 30,000 residents walking for a good cause.

Active Ageing, Active Giving is the key message that drives the Active Ageing Roadshow @ South East and Silver Sportz Extravanganza to be held on Sunday, 4 October 2009 at the Reservoir Lawn of Bedok Reservoir. Active Ageing Roadshows are held as part of the annual Active Ageing Festival organised by C3A. This year’s roadshow at South East District aims to create positive perceptions of ageing by presenting to seniors the many interesting lifestyle opportunities and activities available to them in the district. Residents will have a chance to try out exciting sports activities such as archery, petanque ball and gateball at the Sportz Stations. Apart from that, there will be demonstrations of other lifestyle activities like Qi-gong, Xiang Gong and Xin Ba Duan Jin, and special performances by community groups like line dance and hand-clapping exercise.

The Guest-of-Honour for Sunday’s event is Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC. Other guest attendees include South East District Mayor Matthias Yao, Advisers to grassroots organisations from Marine Parade and East Coast GRCs, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Managing Director (Group Business) NTUC FairPrice and Mr Henry Quake, CEO for Council for Third Age.

“Active Ageing means more than just being physically active; it encompasses other aspects like staying intellectually active, staying connected and participative in the society and being self-reliant among your peers. By doing so, older citizens and those who are ill or living with disabilities, can remain an active contributor to their families and the society,” says Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC.

“Our role as a social broker involves bringing people in the District together and as a catalyst that influences social change for the better. We are glad that we are able to gather like-minded partners in the community to collaborate on this meaningful event,” commented Mr Matthias Yao, Mayor of South East District.

The event concludes the NTUC FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East charity campaign which was launched on 9 Sep 2009 to raise half a million bowls of rice for 5,000 needy families residing in the South East District. The campaign encourages the community to help the less fortunate through simple expression of volunteerism. Over 30,000 residents have participated in the campaign, chalking up 30,000km in walks. FairPrice customers also contributed to the good cause by purchasing participating products at FairPrice outlets. In return, NTUC FairPrice and its business partners will donate 500,000 bowls of rice which will benefit 5,000 needy families.

A symbolic rice presentation will take place before the walk, whereby Mr Seah Kian Peng will present FairPrice’s donation to South East CDC and three other recipients – a VWO representative, a grassroot leader and a needy family. This serves to represent the involvement of VWOs and grassroots organisations in reaching out to the 5,000 needy beneficiaries who will be at the receiving end of the campaign.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Managing Director (Group Business) NTUC FairPrice said, “FairPrice is pleased that this charity campaign is able to reach our target of donating half a million bowls of rice to the needy through public participation and support. The overwhelming response we received from people from all walks of life, including our senior and learned citizens, demonstrates the community spirit that is very much alive in our society.”

To further highlight the act of active giving in the district which houses Bedok estate, known for its large number of senior citizens, South East CDC roped in 150 seniors as volunteers for the half-day roadshow making it an event by seniors for seniors. Another 30 seniors from the Senior Citizens’ Executive Committees from South East constituencies formed part of the taskforce involved in the planning and implementation of the roadshow.

-End-

About South East Community Development Council (CDC)

South East CDC was set up on 24 November 2001. It oversees the Marine Parade Group Representative Constituency (GRC), East Coast GRC, Joo Chiat Single Member Constituency (SMC), MacPherson SMC and Potong Pasir SMC, and serves a population of about half a million residents. At the helm of South East CDC is Mayor Matthias Yao Chih, who steers efforts in achieving the three strategic thrusts that guide the work of the CDCs. Termed the ‘ABCs of Community Bonding’ — Assisting the Needy, Bonding the People and Connecting the Community — South East CDC initiates and manages programmes in collaboration with both community and corporate partners along these three strategic thrusts, so as to nurture a vibrant and self-reliant community.

About Council for Third Age (C3A)

Set up in May 2007, Council for Third Age is an independent body that promotes active ageing, so that seniors can achieve a better quality of life in all the six dimensions of wellness – social, intellectual, physical, vocational, emotional and spiritual. The Council plays a leadership role in driving the thrust towards creating an active ageing culture in Singapore, and partners businesses and community organisations to develop products and services that fulfill the aspirations and interests of seniors.

Annex A

ACTIVE AGEING ROADSHOW 2009

“SILVER SPORTZ EXTRAVAGANZA”

SUNDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2009

BEDOK RESERVOIR (RESERVOIR LAWN)

Programme Outline

7.30am Media Registration

(Media Desk at Reservoir Lawn Carpark)

7.45am Arrival of Guest-of-Honour

Mr Raymond Lim

Minister for Transport & Second Minister for Foreign Affairs

MP for East Coast GRC and Adviser to East Coast GRC GROs

7.50am Presentation Ceremony for NTUC FairPrice – Walk for Rice @ South East

(Good TV & Photo Op)

7.55am Warm-up Exercise

8.00am Flag-off of mass walk (Good TV & Photo Op)

8.30am End of mass walk

8.35am Cool-down Exercise by Bedok Clapping Hand Interest Group

8.40am Tour of Sportz Stations at Activity Mall (Good TV & Photo Op)

9.00am Reception for guests

(Interview Opportunities with Mayor, South East CDC, Council for Third Age and NTUC FairPrice and seniors )

10.00am End of Event

(Shuttle service provided from Activity Mall carpark to Reservoir Lawn carpark)