1.  Entrance to D'Joy on level 3 @ Blk 1, Maude Road



2.  Main hall.  Like I shared, the place is extremely clean and tidy, credit to the staff of D'Joy.


3.  Door to classroom.  If you look carefully, the place needs a fresh lick of paint.  The door frame needs some repair too (and the kid needs to get out of my way ....hahah !!)


4.  Classroom facilities are extremely basic.


5.  Main activity (dining) hall.  From what I understand, most of the furniture has not been changed since Feb 2001 when the centre opened.


6.  Mini library section.  I feel new books and kid's magazines will be a welcome addition.


I wish I could take more pics that tell a better and more compelling story of the important role that D'Joy plays to these kids in the neighbourhood despite having basic facilities.

But alas, I'm still struggling with the use of my idiot-proof camera :-)

I'd encourage you to visit D'Joy to check it out and explore how you can render assistance.

A quick recap.

Earlier this year, I visited Geylang East Home for the Aged to sponsor more medical beds and explore possibilities of upgrading the wards.  (You'd recall that we sponsored medical beds for one ward)
I'm pleased to inform you that other generous folks have followed RFF's example and upgraded all the beds in the home.
This is what RFF hopes to achieve …. A multiplier effect.

Hence there were no RFF expense this year for this old folks home.

From the existing funds (Click here for 2006 financial closing report), we'll be channeling money raised by the EDB chapter to fund Geylang Methodist Primary School's Maximise Your Potential (MYP) programme, Pocket Money Fund and enrichment programmes.

Hence a cheque of $16,160.59 + interest earned** will be written to GMPS in December 2007 to fund the programmes for at least another 2 years.

So as it stands, the remaining $36,942.52 + interest earned** will be used to fund other RFF programmes in 2008.

This will include a new MYP programme + pocket money fund @ Sembawang Primary School.

All funds raised during RFF Dec 2007 stanchart marathon will be directed to D'Joy Child Care Centre.

(** interest earned will be calculated based on bank statements at time of withdrawal).

The combined Maximise Your Potential (MYP) ceremony for Geylang Methodist Primary School (GMPS) and Secondary school (GMSS) students was held on 8th September 2007.

This year, we celebrate the event with the presentation of the MYP awards to 10 GMPS students and 6 GMSS students.

The conference room burst at its seams as parents, students, RFF sponsors streamed in.

You'd notice that this year, unlike past years, there are not individual photos of the recipients.
The reason: My resident photographer couldn't come due to work commitments.

So with the help of a stand-in photo-man (you know who you are, haha!) and a lot of photoshop magic, I present you with pics below of 2 teachers who are instrumental in the structuring and execution of the MYP programme since its inception in 2004.


Jessie Soh with GMPS student Jackie Thng

Theresa Thong with GMPS student Karin Low.

I'd also like to thank Ms Hazel Kaan for administering the MYP award for GMSS since 2006.

MYP will continue to receive top priority for RFF sponsorships as it impacts young lives where it matters most and makes a real difference to charting the future paths they take.

Hi all,

This year, we will have a combined Maximise Your Potential (MYP) Ceremony for Geylang Methodist Primary School (GMPS) and Secondary School (GMSS).

Date: 8^th September (Saturday)

Time: 10 am

Venue: Geylang Methodist Primary School conference room (level 3)

It would be great if you could come and meet the kids you've sponsored.

Some of them have been on the MYP scheme for 4 years already !!

Pls drop me a sms / email to confirm your attendance as we need to cater refreshments.

Attached is a quick update on RFF.

For your information, pls.

Cheers,

Adrian

1. RFF accounts

As we did not raise funds during last year's Stanchart marathon, there was no fund influx.

Year to date, there are also no expenses (I'll explain this later).

Hence available funds: $53,103.11 (as per Nov 06 closing accounts).

2.  RFF's impact @ Geylang East Home For The Aged

The economy has done well in the past 2 years.

Singaporeans are more willing to part with their money to help the less fortunate.

You'd recall RFF sponsored 8 medical beds for Geylang East Home for the aged in September 2005.

I've kept in touch with the home in the past 2 years.

Other generous Singaporeans have seen what RFF has done for 1 ward of the home and have replicated it.

I am pleased to inform you that the home now has all medical beds.

RFF has provided a seed to evoke bigger improvements in the lives of the less fortunate by setting an example for others to follow.

3.  Using RFF funds in 2007

As stated in the previous paragraph, due to the stellar performance of Singapore's economy, charity organizations have access to easy money from generous donors.

Hence there are many organizations I've approached that never reverted.

Quite frustrating to be honest.

One of them is my alma mater: Chemical engineering department @ NUS.

I wrote to the head of department 3 times over 1 month to ask how I can help financially disadvantaged students.

No response.

So we'll focus on organizations that are willing to work with RFF:

1.  GMPS

2.  GMSS

3.  Djoy Childcare Centre (@ Jalan Besar)

3.  SMU school of business

I'll keep you guys posted on my discussions with these organizations in due course.

4.  Stanchart marathon 2007 (2^nd December, Sunday)

I will be running 42 km again this year.

Think my knees can still hold up.

(Will be attempting the 21km army half marathon this Sunday, 26^th Aug…. Wish me luck).

Those of you planning to take part in the Stanchart run, pls register early.

http://www.singaporemarathon.com/en/

I believe the registration will close early due to an overwhelming response.

Train for the event.

It is worth it J

End of note

Nope ...... I'm not referring to my number of driving test attempts.
(Ahem ...  I passed 1st time 17th years ago ok ? Don't pray pray)

3rd December 2006 marked my 4th marathon attempt at a sub 5h 30 min timing.
I've been running around 5h 30min+ the past 3 years.
My target this year: Finish faster than the average timing and lower than 50th percentile for finishing position.

My results were .......



8,900 signed up for the full marathon.
7,214 completed it.

My guntime (time shown on official clock): 5h 28min 50 sec
My chiptime (my actual running time based on a tracking chip attached to my shoe): 5h 23min 40s

A PERSONAL BEST !!

Note: Difference between guntime and chiptime is because of congestion, I passed the starting line 5 minutes after the race started ... and not because I showed up late (like the Army Half Marathon when I was 30 min late)

The chart above also showed my finishing percentile based on guntime.
Based on chiptime (actual time), I finished the race at the 49.9 percentile .....  achieved my target of <50% by a whisker !!!

I guess a combination of better training over the past 3 months and cooler weather helped me run faster than the average marathon finishing time of 5h 29min .... another target achieved
Had it not been for the intermittent bad cramps I suffered from the 14 to 42 km mark, I would have been confident of clocking a sub-5h timing.
I was very fresh (heart-wise) at the end of the run but my thigh muscles were killing me.

I am thankful to have finished the race safely (despite losing to a 75 year old Japanese man who finished in 4h 57min).
I'll be back again next year to shoot for sub 5h timing
I know I'll be able to breach the target, someday.
Someday....

Below is a sequence of shots (yes, I was in pain) of an ah pek chasing me down the final 500m.
Yep, every year there is bound to be one ah pek who will race me down the finishing stretch.
Maybe they think I'm easy meat.....
Maybe I am really easy meat.

I overtook ah pek in front of the Durian (Esplanade) with 500m to go.
He picked up his pace and looked me in the eye threateningly (siong3 me) .....
A CHALLENGE !!


I turned on my turbo mode (ie. shuffled my legs faster) and Ah Pek ate some dust.
See ..... he was further behind 5 secs later.


Unfortunately, my turbo mode lasted only 6 secs and ah pek caught up turning into the road in front of city hall.
With 200m to go, he was 2 body lengths ahead!!
I could see his shrivelled, pruned body.
I also noted a certain swagger in his stride.

"Oh no, you don't .....", I thought.

I gave one final burst of energy (bodily waste gases and all).
See the agony in my face as I "executed" my reserve-reserve turbo.
I looked over my right shoulder and saw Ah Pek 3 metres behind, giving his all too, huffing and puffing away.


I crossed the line first .....punching the air, sealing a sweet victory after an epic struggle against Ah Pek ....haha !!

Guess I showed him who's boss.
(yes, I'm shameless too)

Ah Pek, well done.
I want to be like you when I'm 65.
Look forward to pia-ing with you again next year.

p/s Many of you have asked .... I did not wear the RFF t-shirt because it causes abrasion for runs >21km where a lighter material is needed.

Hi all,

In my previous update, I shared that Run For Funds (RFF) will not be raising funds from the 2006 Standard Chartered Marathon.

The purpose of this email is to:

• Explain the reasons why RFF is not raising funds this year.
• Close the accounts for 2006
• Bring great news: EDB RFF chapter has spun off and raised >$45k for 2 welfare homes.
• Share what's new in 2007

1. Why RFF is not raising funds in 2006

Let's remind ourselves of the basis of funds disbursement.

RFF funds are released to help the needy:

a.  When the need is assessed to be genuine after due diligence.

b.  When it has been confirmed that the welfare system in Singapore is not able to assist (or further assist) the person / family / organisation in need.

c.  At the point of need and is backed up by receipts / verified expense statements.

In 2006, Julian (the co-ordinator of the EDB RFF chapter) and I spoke with various welfare and non-profit organisations.

We explored how RFF can assist them to better help those in need.

For each case, we required the organisation to give us a written justification on why there was a need, how the funds will be used and provide at least 3 quotations from vendors if they were procuring items.

While we were greeted warmly each time, the follow-up from the people in charge was at best tardy which subsequently degenerated to non-response.

It is ludicrous for a donor to be chasing the recipient organisation for documents to support the donation, don't you think?

If they were really in need, wouldn't they have gone all out to give the info we needed?

This fails criterion (a)

My gut feel is that, with the NKF fall-out, Singaporeans are donating the "ex-NKF funds" to other welfare organisations.

With an unexpected surge of income, perhaps these welfare organisations don't see the need to work as hard to raise funds.

I had also planned to fund the medical expenses of 2 children: Tory (baby with hole in the heart who needed approx. $20k) and SL Ee (8 yr old with leukemia who needed approx. $20k).

Ee died from complications in Sept 06 before his bone marrow transplant.

His family was distraught.

Finding a bone donor match outside the family is like finding a needle in a haystack.

But it came too late.

My prayers are with this family in Geylang.

As for baby Tory, I decided to cancel my plans for RFF assistance for his surgery in end 2006 (delayed from July 2006 due to medical procedural matters).  

I am not able to ascertain whether the case is genuine after 3 months of due diligence.

The baby's condition is real and his uncle (Ong) seemed like a genuine guy.

However, each time I requested to visit Tory's home in Batam, my request was turned down.

Ong became extremely evasive.

It reached a point that I threatened to report Ong to the police for being a hoax, raising public sympathy for personal gains.

Ong finally admitted that the reason why Tory's parents didn't want me to visit their home was because "they didn't want to be seen begging for money and didn't want to be disturbed."

My take is simple.

If I'm a parent and I don't have money to save my son's life, I will go down on my knees and beg.

Tory's parents obviously had other ideas or could raise money via other means.

Circumstances became dubious.

Hence failed criterion (a)

There were other cases like Tory that I came across this year.

Hence no funds were disbursed for these people.

These are the black sheep but I can assure you that there are many genuine cases out there that need our help.

My conclusion is that we just need to be more discerning when it comes to providing financial assistance.

As a result, we will be carrying over S$53k of funds to 2007.

In 2007, monies will go to:

a. Funding Maximise Your Potential Programmes and Pocket Money Funds at Geylang Methodist Primary and Secondary Schools and possibility other schools.

b.  Cases of families, welfare organisations in REAL need.

2.  Closing accounts

Funds in

Carryover from 2005: S$ 7439.95 ………… (a)

Funds raised by RFF Superfriends from SC Marathon 2005: S$ 23,976.00 ….. (b)

Funds raised by RFF EDB Chapter from SC Marathon 2005: S$ 16,160.59 ….. (c)

Extra tax credits from RFF donations in 2004: S$1,851 …… **(d)

Tax credits from RFF donations in 2005: S$4,732……….. (e)

TOTAL IN: sum of (a) to (e) = S$54,159.54 ………. (f)

**(d): An estimate of $1,800 was used for tax credits received for RFF donations to public institutions in 2004.   The final confirmed credit is 3,651.   Hence $1,851 is added back to RFF funds this year.

Funds out

Expenses in 2006: S$1056.43 …………. (g)

Carry over to 2007: (f) – (g) = S$53,103.11

If you have queries on how the numbers are derived, pls give me a call or drop me an email.

3.  Standard Chartered Marathon on 3 ^rd Dec 2006

The EDB chapter of RFF has been spun off.

This year, the EDB RFF Superfriends started their own social concern movement.

With the support of EDB Society (Alumni), the EDB runners will be raising in excess of $45k for 2 welfare homes from this year's run.

(They are now autonomous from RFF and will be in charge of funds raised in 2006).

This is SUPERB !!

This is in line with RFF's vision of creating awareness so others start something new to help those in need.

While the RFF Superfriends numbers have dwindled this year (esp when 2 have sustained shin stress fractures), we will be running for FUN, not FUNDS.

4.  What's new  in 2007

In 2007, my friends and I plan to structure assistance to the needy beyond their financial needs.

I've registered a new website www.leaving noonebehind.com   …. ahem …. before President Nathan coined the phrase in his speech recently J

The portal will be used to share info on how people can help by providing a listening ear to an old folk and single parents, mentoring kids on the fringe and helping bright but needy kids excel via tuitions schemes.

I'll have to give this more thought before it is executed.

5.  Final thoughts

I thank you for your support for RFF in the past 5 years.

I look forward to celebrating the 10^th anniversary with you all J

Oh, those of you who have received your RFF t-shirts, pls wear them on 3^rd Dec and encourage your friends to start a social movement of their own.

Lagi better, wear the t-shirt, come to the end point @ City Hall to meet me lah….

Hi folks,

The Standard Chartered Marathon takes place on 3rd Dec (Sunday).

Unlike past years, my Superfriends and I will not be raising funds this year.

We have sufficient funds to roll over to 2007.

I will provide the reasons and the closing accounts for 2006 in a separate email.

This year, my friends and I will be running publicity in the blogsphere to raise awareness that each of us can make a difference to the under privileged.

Details will follow.

3^rd Dec also marks the 5th anniversary of the Run For Funds (RFF) movement. 

To celebrate and thank Superfriends as well as sponsors for your support in the past 5 years, you'll be receiving your eye-catching, one-of-a-kind, bright orange (!)  RFF t-shirt.

Note 1: The monies for these t-shirts did not come from RFF funds as they are sponsored.

Note 2: I'd like to thank Patrick Lee for designing the t-shirt and Mark Sum for printing the t-shirts @ cost.

I hope the RFF t-shirts will serve as reminders that we all can do our own small part to effect positive changes in the lives of others.

I will leave you with this thought: How can you make a difference to someone in your life today?

Cheers,

Adrian

 
  (MYP award recipients, their parents, Run For Funds Superfriends & Sponsors)

Hi folks,

The Maximise Your Potential (MYP) Award Ceremony was held @ Geylang Methodist Primary School (GMPS) on 16^th Sept 2006.

 
  (GMPS Principal Miss Mabel Wee addressing the students and their parents)

This is the 3^rd MYP ceremony, since its inauguration @ GMPS in 2004.

This year we have 14 MYP award recipients (3 new students).

Each received $200 cash, $50 Popular Book Store Voucher and $100 training fund.

  (Sharing a lighter moment @ MYP award ceremony)

We also celebrate our first batch of graduates from the MYP programme.

Terence Teo and Alfie Lim (MYP 2004 & 2005) have done well in their 2005 PSLE and qualified for the secondary school of their choice.

Terence (PSLE score 223) is now at Geylang Methodist Secondary and Alfie (PSLE score 243) at Chung Cheng Secondary School.

Thanks for your support for the Run For Funds movement.

Below are pics of the kids you are sponsoring.

But first, here's a thank you message from the kids (they made this card)......

Cheers,

Adrian

PICS @ MYP AWARD CEREMONY  (16th SEPTEMBER 2006)

Tan Zhiwei (Pri 6) with Ms Mabel Wee, GMPS Principal

Allamaysah (Pri 6)                                       Tan RuHui (Pri 6)

Chan Qiu Qin (Pri 6)

Karin Low ( Pri 5) with Superfriend Gaz      Li Su Ru (Pri 4)

        

Wong Yong Kang (Pri 4)

Sim Huiting(Pri 5) with Superfriend Meng Hwei

Len Fong Xin ( Pri 5)                                     Leong Weiye (Pri 5)

Nyio Boon Keng (Pri 5) with Superfriend Kelvin

Jacky Thng (Pri 4)

Chen Xiangwei (Pri 4) with Superfriend Wei Ming

Tan ZhiGuang (Pri 3)

Gaz mulling over Adrian's request for him to run 42km this year ...

Hi all,

1. "Maximize Your Potential Award" Ceremony (16th September, Saturday, 10am)

The Maximize Your Potential Award Ceremony will be held at Geylang Methodist Primary School on 16th September (Saturday), 10 am @ 3rd floor conference room.

It'd be great if you could turn up to support the event and meet the kids you're sponsoring.

Find out first hand about the progress they've made in the past year, their aspirations and meet their families too.

As we're catering some light refreshments, it'd be greatly appreciated if you could confirm your attendance by 11th September (Monday).

Come, inspire them to greater heights !!

2.  Total Funds Raised from Run For Funds 2005

Donations continued to stream in since the RFF Superfriends completed their runs during the Standchart Marathon on 4^th Dec last year.

I closed the books for RFF 2005 donations on 31^st August 2006.

Total amount collected: S$40,136.59 (of which the EDB Superfriends raised S$16,160.59)

We have exceeded our S$40,000 target for RFF 2005 !!

Thank you everyone for your generosity.

3.  Moving from RFF website to RFF Blogsite

It's official.

We're moving……

I'm re-directing all traffic from website www.runforfunds.com to blogsite www.runforfunds.blogdrive.com.

Reason: I'm technologically challenged

It's easier for me to update you guys using blogs.

Pls scroll down to see:

a.  Plans to use RFF Funds (1st Sept 2006)

b.      Statement of accounts (31^st August 2006)

See you on 16^th Sept !!

Cheers,

Adrian

Available funds as at 31^st August 2006: S$48,320.11

$16,160.59 will be managed by the EDB Chapter of Run For Funds.

(Note: This amount of money is raised by my friends @ EDB from EDB staff). Julian Ho, the EDB chapter leader, is still in discussions with various charity organizations.  (Note 2: All monies raised from EDB will be managed and accounted for by an existing EDB staff ie. Julian, who will provide an update in due course).

It may come as a surprise to many of you, like myself, Julian faced challenges in ascertaining the true need of some charitable organizations and individuals.

While they seem to be in dire straits, they are extremely tardy in their responses to our queries regarding the exact nature of their need.

Unless Julian and I are absolutely sure of how the funds will be put to good use, we will not release $$.

We'd rather err on the side of caution than to land up in a situation of sponsoring a golden tap.

The remainder of funds, $32,159.52, raised by non-EDB Superfriends, will be managed by me.

My plans to use the funds are as follows:

1. "Maximize Your Potential" Award  and Pocket Money Fund @ Geylang Methodist Primary School enhanced

I'm sure you are already familiar with this award @ GMPS.

It has been bank-rolled sufficiently to ensure that our existing recipients (if they continue to do well) will be supported till they graduate from primary school.

I plan to set aside another $3,000 to enhance the MYP / Pocket Money Fund.

This will be used to send the students to enrichment programmes (eg. Computer classes, dance classes etc).

I'll work out the details with the teachers in charge.

2., "Maximize Your Potential" Award @ Geylang Methodist Secondary School expanded

You'd recall that RFF donated S$10,000 to GMSS in end 2005 to set up MYP and pocket money fund.

The inaugural award ceremony was held on 12^th April 2006.

The names of the 5 deserving recipients are:

1.  Chang Xiu Mei (Sec 4)
2. Nelly Yap (Sec 5)
3. Anthony Chan (Sec 2)
4. Shawn Peh (Sec 3)
5. Esther Dawes (Sec 2)

Each of them received:

• $350 in cash
• $100 in book vouchers
• $150 in training grants for enrichment programmes

They will continue to receive the MYP award until they graduate from GMSS, if they continue to do well.

I plan to channel another $5,000 to GMSS to increase the number of recipients for MYP, as well as to address the needs of financial disadvantaged students.  This can come in the form of sponsorship of their GCE N /O level fees, groceries, enrichment programmes.

While this may seem like a lofty ideal, it is my belief that no child should be left behind because he or she is financially disadvantaged.

We can't save the world let's do our utmost in our sphere of influence.

3. Baby Tory

Tory Tan, who hails from Batam, was born with a hole in his heart.

He needed urgent medical attention in Singapore in April 06 and was checked in to KK hospital.

His hospitalization charges ran up to S$67,000 because, being Indonesian, our Gahmen doesn't give subsidies (more charges were levied after the $55k bill was sent. See bill below)

His parents being salaried Batam-ites can't afford to foot the bill.

I believe there was an appeal in S'pore's Chinese papers and only a small percentage was raised.

After exhausting their means, Tory's parents and Singapore uncle (Ong), managed to raise $55,000.

That is only half the problem.

Tory needs to go for heart surgery to fix his life threatening condition.

The operation is scheduled for mid-end Sept and will cost S$35,000.

Again, money stands in the way of securing this kid's life.

I am prepared to commit S$18,000 from RFF to cover half the operation costs.

Am also prepared to explore ways to cover the S$12,000 still owing to KK for the initial hospital bill.

Still, the burden of proof that this is a genuine case lies on me.

I've called up KK to check the authenticity of Tory's case.

The medical condition is real and so is the outstanding bill.

I've spoken to Ong (Tory's uncle in S'pore) to get updates on Tory's condition.

Everything seems to check out.

However, each time I make a request to visit Tory @ his Batam home, Ong seems pretty tardy in responding to my request.

Told him I'd like to visit Tory in his domicile so I can assess if more assistance is needed.

To date, I'm still chasing Ong to arrange for me to visit Tory.

And he is increasingly more standoff-ish.

A small part of me tells me this could be an elaborate scam ie. Tory family is well off but is feeding off Singaporean sympathy and $$.

Yet a bigger part of me chooses to give Ong the benefit of the doubt and continue to monitor Tory's case as his medical condition is real.

Unless I get to visit Tory @ Batam and meet his family, I will not release $18,000 to sponsor his heart operations. 

We can use these funds to pay for hospital bills of other sick children from Club Rainbow.

4. Emergency medical fund for handicapped orphans in China

In early July 06, I visited 2 orphanages in Hengyang, China.

Spent 10 days there understanding the state of affairs and helping out.

Where's Hengyang?

It's a 3 hr flight from S'pore to Shenzhen (Southern China), a 2hr connecting flight northwest to Changsha (in Hunan) and a 2 hr bus ride to Hengyang.

In short, it's an ulu place.

I will share my experiences @ the orphanages in a separate posting.

The orphanage I visited @ Hengyang had 76 residents.

They range from toddlers to 24 year olds.

Almost all of them have neural disorder (eg. Cerebral palsy) and have been abandoned by their parents who weren't able or were not prepared to look after them.

Unlike other orphanages in China, the orphanage I helped out at is a joint-venture between the Chinese Gahmen and an international volunteer group (ICC – International China Concern).

ICC funds part of the orphanage expenses on condition that it is allowed to deploy volunteer staff to run the orphanage.

Because of ICC's intervention, the improvements (operations and facilities) @ Hengyang orphanage is dramatically better viz wholly state owned ones.

Without going into details, children @ Hengyang Orphanage are accorded the basic dignity of humans, although conditions are spartan

They don't fight for their food, eat off the floor nor left to "rot" in their beds.

Other than being short of funds, one big problem remains: Death is a daily reality @ the orphanage.

Due to these children's disabilities, they are quite sickly and may need urgent medical attention from time to time.

The system in China's hospitals, despite being "communist", is no $$, no medical attention.

I understand that several kids have died in the past few months because the orphanage was not able to raise funds quickly enough for the hospital to perform emergency ops.

During my stay @ the orphanage, 2 kids were admitted to the hospital for sepsis and pneumonia.

Lucky for them, there were available funds.

Government hospital bills in China, are by local standards, not cheap and are out of reach of the peasant folk.

Like Singapore, there are standard rates for consultation, hospital beds, operation fees etc.

Hospital bills can thus be easily verified.

Standard of healthcare in Hengyang is ok as there are several military hospitals there.

I had a discussion with Kyla (an Aussie volunteer), the director of ops @ the Hengyang Orphanage regarding the unnecessary loss of lives due to lack of funds.

I've proposed setting up a 25,000 RMB (approx S$5,000) medical fund to be used in medical exigencies only.

I've shared with her my concerns that the funds may be mis-managed or misappropriated.

While Kyla has given me assurances that she will personally manage the funds and ensure all bills are accounted for, I'm thinking of putting in place additional safeguards (eg. Disbursing the funds S$1,000 at a time).

Bottomline: The orphanage needs a medical fund. RFF is in the position to assist.  Mechanics needs to be worked out.

5. Medical beds for Geylang East Home For The Aged.

RFF bought modern 8 medical beds to replace bug-ridden old wooden beds at the home in 2005.

I plan to use the remaining $$ to purchase more beds for the home.

I'm pretty sure prices have increased but leave it to me to haggle for a good deal.

This is a very long update.

In short, the planned mobilisation of funds under my management from now till end 2006 will be = $3,000 (GMPS) + $5,000 (GMSS) + $18,000 (Tory) + $5,000 (Medical fund for disabled Chinese orphans) = $31,000.

The remaining $1,159.52 + additional tax credits from double taxation (to be confirmed)  to be used for medical beds for the old folks.

If you have further queries, pls feel free to contact me.

Regards,

Adrian