{"id":29544,"date":"2025-01-08T18:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T10:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/?p=29544"},"modified":"2025-01-09T15:25:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T07:25:11","slug":"safra-swim-for-hope-2024-supporting-our-community-for-a-better-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/safra-swim-for-hope-2024-supporting-our-community-for-a-better-future\/","title":{"rendered":"SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024: Supporting Our Community For A Better Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024 is already in the 14<\/span>th<\/span> year of its now-established social tradition of doing good. Same as every year, SAFRA rallies members of our community to make waves, harnessing the transformative power of swimming to contribute to social causes, while encouraging all to embrace a more active lifestyle. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2024, SAFRA Swim for Hope set out to raise funds for the NCSS Special Assistance Fund, Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), the President\u2019s Challenge, the SAF Care Fund and Singapore Aquatics, which seeks to empower our youths with opportunities to learn swimming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The event raised over $250,000 with over 5,800 swimmers championing its cause. We spoke to a few participants at the finale of SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024, including a national athlete, to share their experiences and thoughts on its social significance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Driving social causes with sportsmanship – Abielle Yeo Zhi Min<\/h3>\n

\"Swim<\/p>\n

National Water Polo athlete Abielle Yeo Zhi Min, having been with the team since 2018, was enjoying a well-deserved day under the sun at SAFRA Tampines as she shared about how her being a national sportswoman can make a <\/span>difference simply by leveraging on her influence to do good. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love how sports can function as a great equaliser for communities,\u201d she mused, visibly heartened by the exuberance of the event\u2019s participants as they excitedly gathered around the pool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Out of the water, Abielle is also a marketing professional. This duality allows her to understand how a supportive environment can shape one\u2019s potential for success, with her own colleagues and coaches doing all they could to ensure that Abielle thrived both at her day job and her athletic pursuits. “I\u2019m so thankful that everyone has been incredibly supportive of my athletic aspirations!\u201d she remarked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Abielle believes that the smallest of acts can make a huge difference in the lives of others. \u201cWhether you\u2019re in it for the achievements or just for the fun of it all, sports are accessible to people of all backgrounds,\u201d she shared, emphasising how sports and as an extension, SAFRA Swim for Hope, can bring people together to spotlight the lives of those who are less privileged. Beyond that, she hopes that events like SAFRA Swim for Hope remind our communities that we can always find ways to contribute to the society that we call our home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Friendship for community – Team R182 (Top Team Fundraiser)<\/h3>\n
\"Swim
(L-R) Chang Tsann, Chong Yit Nee and Vice-President of SAFRA, DNSA BG (NS) Kenneth Liow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It started with two best friends looking to do something that they both enjoyed \u2013 a<\/span>nd SAFRA Swim for Hope ticked all their boxes. <\/span>Swimming? Check. Giving back to those in need? Check again. <\/span><\/p>\n

Soon, this passionate duo became a trio, then a quartet and today, their team, R182 has grown to include more than 17 members swimming for a kinder and more compassionate future. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of us actually met when we were still in secondary school,\u201d shared the group leaders Chong Yit Nee and Chang Tsann, elaborating on how their name <\/span>R182 <\/span>is an allusion to their graduation year \u2013 1982. Buddies for more than a decade, they love how SAFRA Swim for Hope gives them an opportunity to work towards a shared goal together, creating new memories to enrich their cherished friendship. <\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, this will be their third<\/span> time participating in the event. \u201cSAFRA Swim for Hope seemed like a very natural decision for us as we all love swimming. So why not for a good cause? After all, it is also a great way for us to spend time together!\u201d they remarked enthusiastically, clearly still celebrating what was a joyous occasion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yit Nee and Chang Tsann realised that most, if not all of the group were keen to take part because of their friendship and camaraderie. \u201cThe one thing that ties us together is a passion to keep our close-knit community going,\u201d they reflect, adding that they have \u201cgathered three times as a group in addition to their individual swim sessions.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024 has come to a close, that does not mean that this comradeship is ending anytime soon. Just a day prior, they had gathered at a friend\u2019s house for a social potluck. \u201cSome of us are already experiencing withdrawal symptoms,\u201d joked Chang Tsann, \u201cwe are really excited for the next SAFRA Swim for Hope!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking the talk – Team Change (Largest Team)<\/h3>\n
\"Swim
(L-R) Vice-President of SAFRA, DNSA BG (NS) Kenneth Liow and Edmund Chan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Swimming coach Edmund Chan did not just want his lessons to be all about the technicalities. He wanted his students to understand how they can be champions for change, to have swimming as a tool to uplift our next generations of leaders to better our communities. What better opportunity to impart this than with SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024? <\/span><\/p>\n

This year, he is joined by his fellow coaches as well as more than 65 students in SAFRA Swim For Hope\u2019s mission to lend aid to those who need it the most, aptly represented by their team moniker, <\/span>Team Change<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cIt couldn\u2019t come at a better time really!\u201d shared the coach, \u201cjust before the event, I was teaching the kids about the significance of the Paralympics, sharing videos and anecdotes of the beneficiaries.\u201d He wanted his students to be well-informed about the power that they had to transform the lives of others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so happy that some of my students are really pushing themselves this year. Many have already exceeded expectations in terms of distance!\u201d he exclaimed proudly. To celebrate his team\u2019s impressive turnout , Edmund will issue commemorative certificates to his team members so that they can bring home a bit of the joy that they have already given to those in need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Want more articles like this, and other lifestyle content right in your inbox? Download the new\u00a0SAFRA mobile app<\/a>\u00a0and opt in for the eNSman Newsletter \u2013 you don\u2019t need to be a SAFRA member to subscribe \u2013 and never miss another story!<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Supporting those who need our help by making waves. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":29637,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9,7],"tags":[4689,3095,5222,5807,4672],"yoast_head":"\nSAFRA Swim for Hope 2024: Helping To Support Our Communities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We asked a few participants to share their experiences at SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024 and thoughts on its social significance.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024: Helping To Support Our Communities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We asked a few participants to share their experiences at SAFRA Swim for Hope 2024 and thoughts on its social significance.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/safra-swim-for-hope-2024-supporting-our-community-for-a-better-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"eNSMAN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SAFRAsg\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-08T10:00:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-09T07:25:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Swim-For-Hope-2024.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"836\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"430\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/\",\"name\":\"eNSman - 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