The ‘ride’ way to donate rice
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and MPs Darryl David (left) and Lam Pin Min taking part in the charity cycling challenge at Ci Yuan Harmony Park in Hougang. Mr Lee, who was the guest of honour at yesterday’s event, cycled some 3km, amounting to a special donation of 300kg of brown rice. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — Brown rice was, for the first time in the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang ward, donated to community and voluntary welfare organisations instead of the usual white rice, as part of a charity drive yesterday.
The Ride for Charity initiative, organised by the ward’s grassroots organisations, saw some 2,300kg of brown rice donated to three welfare organisations as well as the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Community Development and Welfare Fund.
Member of Parliament (MP) Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who oversees the ward, told TODAY: “We’re all inspired by (the Prime Minister’s) Rally speech. It was a very simple speech, but it hit home with some key points.
“We wanted to focus on two of those key points: Healthy living vis-a-vis exercising and also eating healthily.”
The call to start switching to brown rice came at the National Day Rally, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to eat less white rice because of its higher glycaemic index, which may be potent in causing diabetes.
In contrast, brown rice is packed with nutrients, such as zinc and iron, and has more fibre, which slows the body’s glucose absorption.
Yesterday, residents took turns to cycle on 20 static bicycles in Ci Yuan Harmony Park in Hougang, whereby every kilometre clocked equalled to a donation of one kg of brown rice.
The beneficiaries included AWWA and The Salvation Army’s Gracehaven home. Mr Lee, who was the guest of honour, cycled some 3km on a static bicycle, amounting to a special donation of 300kg of brown rice.
Mr David said that to encourage residents to carry on with a healthy lifestyle, the static bicycles would be given away to winners of a lucky draw. Those who cycled at least 1km will qualify for the draw.
Other MPs TODAY spoke to said that they would consider the option of brown rice for community events or charity drives.
MP Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) said he would encourage his grassroots leaders to start introducing brown rice to support healthy living. “Perhaps for a start, (we could) give a mix of brown and white rice ... as many households may not (be) used to brown rice,” he added.
At yesterday’s event, Mr Lee also witnessed the official renaming of Ci Yuan Harmony Park, which was previously Punggol South Park.
The name was chosen after a voting process last month among more than 5,000 residents living near the park.
