Yep, folks, I've decided to join the obese couch potato club.

But seriously, this year's 42km run could be my 5^th and my last.

2 major reasons:

1. The arrival of my baby daughter in Nov 07.  Those of you who are parents can empathise with me. It's really hard to dig into my energy reserves to train in the midst of round the clock feeds for the baby.

2. I'm using more ko-yok (medicated patches) than an 80 year old ah pek.  I cannot but admit that age has finally caught up.  My temple, I mean  … body, is approaching ruins (like Angkor Wat).  I've become rather injury prone and it takes me longer to recover from muscle aches after training runs.

Coupled with my promotion to Papa-dom and demotion to Ah Pek-dom, the demand of my training time for the marathon becomes too much.

=>  I typically have to spend an average of four 2hr sessions each week training for the run, 6 months a year.

Ok, enough of my sob story …. Who knows, with blue (ahem!) pills and exotic animals parts (yep, the unmentionables), I may be able to run the full 42km in 2008 J

Now, on to RFF 2007.

This year, unlike other years, my Superfriends and I will be running to raise funds solely for the non-profit D'Joy Children's Centre @ Blk 1, Maude Road near Mustafa Centre, near Jalan Besar Stadium.
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Why D'Joy?

• D'joy runs day care services for up to 120 children from ages 2 to 14 from the Jalan Besar neighbourhood.

• They cater to children from low income, single-parent or dysfunctional families.  A number of them are referred by the MCYS (Govt agency that oversees social welfare amongst other things), social service agencies and schools with problems ranging from social behaviour, learning difficulties to physical and emotional abuses.

• D'joy receives no operational funding from the Government.  Finances are raised through the nominal fees charged for daycare services, donations from well wishers and charitable organizations.  The centre faces many challenges managing a shoestring budget and to make ends meet.

• The facilities are basic, clean and extremely tidy.  But, to me, the centre is rather run down and could use a fresh lick of paint and some upgrades.  However, budgetary constraints limit the maintenance work that can be done.  Recently, I found a good Samaritan in my friend Jerry O' Sullivan, who mobilized other good Samaritans to repair leaking toilets, rewire the lights and other repair jobs for free.

• If D'joy doesn't stay afloat financially, the good work that is done there ceases.  The children lose a safe haven and will be left to their own devices and may be exposed to undesirable influences outside school.

Click here to see D'Joy's write up by Donna Tsang, Centre Director.

This year I look forward to your generous contributions to help D'Joy.

I am cognizant of the fact that the funds raised may not keep it afloat long term if the finances continue to be dire.

However, every single day we keep underprivileged kids off the streets is a cause, I feel, worth giving to.