SINGAPORE - Spinal nerve damage almost left Mr Tan Thian Seng, 71, bedridden three years ago.
Even after undergoing surgery, he had difficulty walking. Performing simple tasks, such as buttoning his shirt, required tremendous effort.
Fortunately, physiotherapy sessions at the Adventist Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre (ANRC) helped him regain most of his independence.
A non-profit voluntary welfare organisation, ANRC provides intensive physiotherapy and day rehabilitation for patients like Mr Tan to help them regain their strength and health after a serious illness.
Most of them are patients who are recovering from stroke, Parkinson’s disease, head injury trauma and other chronic neuromuscular disorders.
Needy patients like Mr Tan, who is unemployed and comes from a low-income family, can undergo physiotherapy at subsidised rates.
“Without a subsidy, it’ll be difficult to finance my long-term rehabilitation. It can be a heavy financial burden on the family,” said Mr Tan, who has been going to ANRC two times a week for the past two years.
The centre is now hoping to raise S$100,000 to help poor and needy patients so that they can continue with their long-term care. A charity 18-hole golf tournament, organised by the centre, will be held next Thursday at the Laguna Golf and Country Club. Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, will grace the event as guest-of-honour.
Participation fees are S$350 each for individual golfers this includes golf fees, buggy, lunch and dinner and S$2,000 per flight (for a group of four golfers). Donations are also welcome. Call Susan at 6368 8401 for more information. - TODAY/ar