Seeking Volunteers for Spinal Support Group

[Guest millionmilebenz]

Dear Members,

As some of you know, a number of us are trying to help a group called the Spinal Support Group (SSG). SSG is dedicated to helping people who are paralyzed from the chest down due to accidents/illness, etc. It is very important for these folks to exercise their upper body (i.e. arms) so that they can become healthier and more independent. It really takes a lot of effort to wheel your weight around in a wheel chair! Besides building up physical strength, there is also the benefit of getting these people out of their homes to mingle with others in similar situation. This helps them to overcome the depression that often comes with the disability.

One way of doing these exercises is through the use of hand-bikes (see an example here). These contraptions are really quite expensive, so the SGMerc group has done a round of fund-raising during the August meet-up where many kind members have donated generously! (see thread here)

Good news - the money donated has been used towards the purchase of an additional hand-bike and now SSG has 4 bikes in their fleet (2 of those are sponsored by Aviva and Stan Chart). The next goal of SSG is to get more of these physically handicapped folks to come out and make use of the hand-bikes, and this is where SGMerc members can contribute once again.

We're looking for volunteers to help ferry the SSG members from their homes to the exercise location. Why is this important? Because these people have NO CHOICE but to use taxis wherever they go, and that can be prohibitively expensive for many. So what happens? They choose to stay home, and their physical and mental health deterioriates.

Therefore, we're appealing to SG Merc members who are interested to volunteer your time and use of your ride to sign up. The exercise location is at the ITE campus at Simei, and the exercise sessions are done mainly on weekday evenings from 4:30pm onwards. We understand that it's difficult to leave work early on a regular basis. Hence we'll keep the schedule flexible and it will be updated weekly, and you don't need to worry about committing on a long-term basis.

So, if you're keen to help out, please PM the following info to me:

a) Name

Mobile number

c) Email

d) Your office/home district depending on where you're gonna leave from (e.g. CBD, Bukit Timah, etc.)

e) Days and time that you're normally available (e.g. Tuedays from 4:30pm on)

f) Dates that you can commit to now (e.g. 6 Nov and 13 Nov)

We'll pair you up with a SSG member and we'll help to coordinate schedules initially.

THANK YOU for reading this post and for your consideration!!

[Guest millionmilebenz]

Dear All,

I'm going down to the ITE Simei tomorrow (Tue 6 Nov) evening to introduce the SSG folks to one of the SGR members (Sherlene). She's helping to corral volunteers from the SGR forum.

If you're keen, do come down and join us. We'll be at the track area from 6pm to about 8. Followed by dinner. ;D

Cheers!