When Lifesaving Meets Caregiving

^{[From left to right] Mr Alroy Tan, Logistics Department, SCDF; Ms Eva Loo, Thye Hua Kwan Senior Care Centre (THKSCC), Ms Eunice Kwan, THKSCC; Assistant Commissioner (AC) Wesley Ho, Director Logistics, SCDF; Lieutenant Colonel (NS) Marcus Lee, Commander Civil Resource Unit (CRU), SCDF; Major (NS) New Wee Beng, Deputy Commander CRU, SCDF; Captain (CPT) Fairul, Corporate Services Hub East, SCDF.}

On 25 October 2022, in commemoration of 55 years of National Service (NS55), the Civil Resources Unit (CRU) under SCDF’s Logistics Department, partnered with Thye Hua Kwan Senior Care Centre @ Kaki Bukit (THKSCC) to organise a charity event with the theme “When Lifesaving Meets Caregiving”. The SCDF Operational Ready National Servicemen (ORNSmen) from CRU HQ, Bravo Company, served as SCDF’s charity ambassadors and passionately contributed their time and efforts during the event.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Wesley Ho, Director of Logistics Department and his team of officers also joined in the charity event as volunteers to lend a helping hand. The event commenced with the SCDF ORNSmen giving special trishaw rides to the THKSCC seniors around the Kaki Bukit neighbourhood. The trishaws were provided by Cycling Without Age (CWA), a registered charity that runs innovative programmes to engage and empower seniors to live out their best years in active settings.

^{AC Wesley Ho doing a flag-off with a traditional fan to commence the charity event with the trishaw rides for the THKSCC seniors}

^{MAJ (NS) New Wee Beng offering THKSCC seniors a ride on a trishaw around the neighbourhood}

The THKSCC seniors enjoyed the lush greenery and the company of the SCDF ORNSmen, who took time outside their In-Camp Training to prepare and train on the proper techniques of handling a trishaw and learning the role of a safety marshal during the event.

“It is a great opportunity for SCDF to partner THKSCC and engage the seniors in this meaningful charity event,” said LTC (NS) Marcus Lee, Commander CRU. “The trishaw was a common mode of transport back in the days when the seniors were much younger. By having the seniors ride the trishaw, we hope this could bring back some fond memories for them.”

Apart from SCDF, other community partners such as The Food Bank SG and FILOS Community Services Ltd donated food and daily necessities which were packed into care packs. These care packs were distributed by SCDF ORNSmen to 55 households resided by the THKSCC seniors, as well as those seniors who were present at the charity event.

Last but not least, a team of ORNSmen befriended the seniors at the care centre to engage and connect with them on a deeper and personal level. The seniors warmed up quickly to the ORNSmen, with some even sharing their touching life stories and experiences.

“As we work towards building A Nation of Lifesavers, it is important that we take time to remember the seniors as well as the less fortunate in the community and do what we can as an organisation to help improve lives apart from our core duties of emergency response,” said MAJ (NS) New Wee Beng, Deputy Commander CRU.

For many of the ORNSmen and NSFs, it was their first time serving as a volunteer, and it sparked their interest to explore more volunteering opportunities in their own personal time.  

“Besides performing our duty of protecting and saving lives and property at the frontlines, this charity event allows me to engage and contribute to the community in a new way. It is something refreshing and that adds to the meaningfulness of being called back for In-Camp Training to serve with the Lifesaving Force,” said SGT (NS) Syed Ali Bin Syed Abdul Rahman.

“Interacting with the elderlies helped me to understand them better and appreciate the challenges that they may face each day. It was indeed a rewarding experience for me and other NSFs as we brought smiles to the elderlies and helped make their day a joyful one,” said Lance Corporal (NSF) Jeremy Lai.

Lastly, a big shout-out to THKSCC and all the community partners for helping SCDF make this meaningful charity event a success!