22 Aug 2024
Members of the community come together for the Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge 2024, raising funds for the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund.
On 22 August 2024, 500 participants took part in the third edition of the exhilarating Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge, in a celebration of competition, camaraderie, and community. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Eric Chua (SPS), Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
(From left to right) Ms Wu Mei Ling, General Secretary & CEO, YMCA Singapore, Ms Lee May Gee, Deputy Chief Executive, SG Enable, Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Social and Family Development, Mr Loh Chin Hui, Director, Workplace Health & Outreach, Health Promotion Board and Mr Jack Lam, Chief Operating Officer, Commercial, Frasers Property Singapore at Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge 2024.
As part of our community outreach efforts, Frasers Property Singapore donated S$15 for each sign-up of the race to the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF). Proceeds from the fund, administered by SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion, would be channelled to programmes and initiatives that provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to lead socially integrated lives. Together with the efforts of our partners, as well as participants who made direct donations at the event via the giving.sg website, we managed to raise a total of S$7,700.
Mr Jack Lam, Chief Operating Officer, Commercial, Frasers Property Singapore said, “The Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge has evolved since we first held this event three years ago. This year’s challenge is truly multi-faceted, incorporating competitive sports, community engagement, and social causes. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all participants and our valued partners for making the event a success. We remain committed to collaborating with like-minded partners to drive inclusive and impactful initiatives that benefit the wider community.”
Ms Lee May Gee, Deputy Chief Executive, SG Enable said, “The Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge highlights our commitment to building inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to participate in a sports activity together, enhancing better understanding and interaction within the community. We are also heartened by the generous support from the community towards the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund, which will help to provide financial aid and support the aspirations of persons with disabilities.”
A Celebration of Inclusion & Competition
20 YMCA Club Lite Ambassadors embody resilience, endurance and stamina as they scale Frasers Tower.
As participants ascended the 1,256 steps of the 39-storey Frasers Tower, they took on not just a physical challenge, but also a meaningful community initiative that brought together different circles of the community in the shared experience of tower running. This year, Y Nature Walk ambassadors from YMCA Club LITE, a social club for youths with special needs, joined our participants to ascend the climb, in preparation for the upcoming YMCA Inclusive Challenge.
Ms Wu Mei Ling, General Secretary & CEO, YMCA Singapore said, "YMCA is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Frasers Property Singapore on the Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge. The event not only highlights the dedication of our youths with special needs as they prepare to scale new heights at the upcoming YMCA Inclusive Challenge but also reflects the progress our society has made in fostering inclusivity."
Tower Running Champions of the World
For the first time, the event was recognised as a pivotal stage in the Towerrunning World Association’s Towerrunning Tour 2024. This highly anticipated event transformed the iconic Frasers Tower into a challenging arena where elite tower running athletes from around the world tested their endurance against each other.
Mr Soh Wai Ching from Malaysia and Ms Yuko Tateishi from Japan triumphed in the men’s and women’s events, with a time of 05:36.9 and 07:11.0 respectively, and were crowned winners of the national championship.
The event was also recognised as a National Championship by the Towerrunning Association of Singapore.
Mr Ryoji Watanabe (fifth from right) and Ms Yuko Tateishi (sixth from right) came in second and first respectively in the men’s and women’s events.
Mr Lee Kai Peng, President, Towerrunning Association of Singapore, said, “We are thrilled to work with Frasers Property Singapore to introduce tower running to a broader audience in Singapore. In our urban environment, this sport is readily accessible to all. Events like the Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge are an excellent opportunity to inspire Singaporeans from all walks of life, to try out the sport and lead an active lifestyle.”
Every Step Made a Difference
The Frasers Tower Vertical Challenge 2024 was more than a sporting event; it served as a platform to foster social cohesion and inclusivity through an active lifestyle. The event highlighted the power of collaboration, as different members of the community came together to do their part to support the wider community.
Aligned with the vision of Forward Singapore, which emphasises the importance of strengthening our social compact, this event aims to spotlight the abilities of community members with special needs, in a show of their endurance, perseverance and stamina.
In our drive for strong social impact, we seek to continue strengthening partnerships with like-minded organisations and the Government – towards our shared vision of nurturing an inclusive and supportive society.