Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?
Race Against Cancer — organised by Singapore Cancer Society to raise funds for cancer treatment subsidies, welfare assistance, cancer rehabilitation, hospice care, free cancer screenings, research and public education initiative — was cancelled at the last minute because of the haze that has blanketed the island.
RAC, scheduled on Sep 13, was cancelled the night before “in light of the poor air quality, and for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries.”
The Health Promotion Board says key air pollutants in haze include particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide; in Singapore, “the main air pollutant in the event of haze is particulate matter.”
As at the announcement, the Pollutant Standards Index was at 134, considered unsuitable for prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.
According to the race organiser, participants would have included “the very young, the very old, as well as cancer patients and survivors.”
Registered 15km and 10km runners can collect their finishers’ medal from Singapore Cancer Society.
The haze, however, did not keep the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run from pushing through — or Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Masagos Zulkifli from flagging off the participants.
Themed “The Road to Acceptance”, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run took participants through a 6km Fun Route, finishing at Changi Prison Complex, where an open carnival was held. The route brought participants through historical sites such as the Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and the Old Changi Prison Wall.
Members of the public were also treated to performances by 46-member strong local wind orchestra, The Philharmonic Winds, in collaboration with two inmates from the Singapore Prison Service Performing Arts Centre (PAC).
