For as long as he can remember, Salwant has been in motion. In his youth, he trekked the high trails of the Himalayas. For decades, he ran a thriving music distribution business, bringing the sounds of East and West to Southeast Asia. Later, he switched gears to real estate, helping families find homes, while supplementing his income with Grab driving. His days were full, his body strong, his spirit restless for the next adventure.
But in 2021, everything changed.
It began with a small, harmless-looking bump on his leg. Within weeks, it swelled into something that filled him with dread.
“I knew something was wrong,” Salwant says softly. “When my doctor told me it was cancer… everything went quiet.”
There was no time to waste. The tumour was aggressive. Within days, he was wheeled into a marathon surgery that stretched past 12 hours. One team of surgeons removed the tumour, while another painstakingly rebuilt his leg using a flap from his thigh.
The Darkest Days
The recovery was brutal. Ten days in the hospital. Weeks in a wheelchair. Pain, weakness, and the slow humiliation of being unable to do even the smallest things on his own.
“I was always the strong one. And suddenly, I couldn’t even walk to the door.”
Radiotherapy followed – 30 consecutive days that blurred into one long haze of hospital visits, machines, and exhaustion. Through it all, his family never left his side. His wife, his children – they became his lifeline.
“They fed me, encouraged me, and reminded me to keep going. I don’t think I would have made it without them,” he says.
Choosing to Move Again
When he finally traded the wheelchair for a walker, then the walker for a cane, it felt like progress. But the day came when he looked at the cane in his hand and made a decision.
“I told myself: That’s it. No more crutches. I will walk on my own.”
Now, his mornings begin at 6 am with deep breathing and yoga. By 8 am, he’s walking his two young grandchildren to school – a small daily ritual that feels like a gift. In the evenings, he walks along East Coast Park, twice a week he goes to the gym, and once a week, he treks nature trails with a friend.
Healing Body and Spirit
Earlier this year, a check-up with his doctor led him to the Singapore Cancer Society’s F.I.R.E. (Fitness Intensive Rehabilitation Exercise) programme which has been subsidised for patients like him. The physiotherapists designed a tailored plan to strengthen his leg and improve his balance.
“They were so warm and encouraging,” he says. “It wasn’t just exercise – it was someone believing I could get stronger.”
The progress has been more than physical. “I’ve regained the confidence to walk and climb again. Maybe not the toughest mountains, but enough to feel like myself again.”
Art As A Window To The Soul
Salwant also found unexpected comfort in art therapy – something he had never tried before. Over monthly sessions in this programme that is subsidised by the Singapore Cancer Society, he and other cancer survivors used colours and shapes to express feelings too deep for words.
One of his paintings, a bright mountain landscape, is now one of his most treasured items in his home.
“The mountains have always been my happy place,” he explains. “Painting them brought back that feeling of freedom.”
In the sessions, participants shared their journeys – stories of fear, resilience, and quiet victories. “It reminded me that I’m not alone. We all carry our own battles, but we can lighten the load together.”
Why Hope Matters
When he hears about charity events like SAFRA’s Swim For Hope, an annual charity swim event organised by SAFRA, his face brightens up.
“Hope is powerful – especially for someone facing cancer. This event isn’t just about raising funds; it’s about telling people who are struggling: you’re not forgotten, and you’re not alone.”
For many patients, he adds, even small things like transportation to treatment can be a challenge. “That’s where support makes a real difference. It’s not just about survival – it’s about living.”
Still Moving Forward
Today, at 75, Salwant is not just surviving. He is moving – towards the gym, along coastal paths, up gentle hills, and into moments of joy with his family and grandchildren.
“Cancer slowed me down, but it didn’t stop me,” he says. “Every step I take now is a reminder – I’m still here, I’m still me.”
And with each step, he carries something that can’t be measured in distance: hope.
Singapore Cancer Society is one of the beneficiaries in this year’s SAFRA Swim For Hope event. Introduced in 2011, SAFRA Swim For Hope is an annual charity swim event which provides an opportunity for Operationally Ready National Serviceman and their families to contribute to charitable causes, while promoting fitness and bonding through swimming. This year, all nett event proceeds will go towards the various beneficiary organisations to support families and seniors in need of assistance.
Visit safras4h.sg to do your part and contribute to a good cause! Here are ways you can contribute:
- Sign up by 1 October and rally family and friends to support you by making a donation. There are different categories and swim distances to choose from. You can choose to participate in the Individual Open category, take part with your child or form a team.
- Donate to support a SAFRA Swim For Hope participant/team.
- Make a donation to SAFRA Swim For Hope directly.
