Through sports, this inclusive running club aims to integrate persons with special needs

• Founded in 2009, Runninghour is a cooperative that organises sports activities aimed at promoting integration of persons with special needs
• The running club pairs running guides with beneficiaries who are intellectually-, physically- and visually-challenged
• Some beneficiaries said that the club has given them a sense of belonging and a strong community
• Volunteer guides also said that they are inspired by other members’ stories of resilience

SINGAPORE — Even as a child, Ms Delia Kang already had poor eyesight, which continued to deteriorate as she entered her 20s.

In 2009, she woke up one morning with grey patches clouding her vision. She was diagnosed with macular degeneration, a condition that causes blurred or no vision in the central visual field.

“I only have peripheral vision,” the 50-year-old said. “It’s pretty much like having two gigantic blind spots in the middle.”

During the first two years after her diagnosis, she fell into a depressive stage. At one of her lowest points, she even thought about how to end her life.

However, these days, Ms Kang is in a better place, and is even training to complete a half Ironman Triathlon in the future.

One of the reasons is Runninghour, a cooperative that promotes integration of persons with special needs by organising sports activities.

Runninghour was founded in 2009 by Mr John See Toh, 60, and his wife, Ms Chan Jan Siang, 43, who both had experience working with special needs students.

“Young people with intellectual disabilities normally leave school after (they turn) 18 years old, and there are not many platforms for them to socialise and be in the community,” he said.

To keep their ex-students occupied and provide them with a social support group, the couple started joining races with their ex-students.

They started out as a group of 10. More than a decade later, Runninghour has grown into a club with around 500 members, consisting of beneficiaries and running guides.

Alongside running activities, Runninghour also conducts sessions for rock climbing, Zumba and Crossfit, and organises the annual Run for Inclusion, where participants run alongside hearing-, intellectually-, physically- and visually-challenged runners.

In the future, Mr See Toh hopes that Runninghour can equip other organisations with the skills to support persons with special needs, such as by conducting workshops.

“At the same time, (we can) go down to their premises to audit their programme and tell them what are the things they can do in terms of environment, pedagogy and curriculum that will support people with special needs,” he said.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING

Mr Sebastian Ng looks forward to joining Runninghour for runs every Thursday and Saturday.

Decked out in the purple and green club T-shirt, the 30-year-old — who currently does packing and woodwork at THK Pan Disability Centre — completes three rounds of circuit training with his guide, running more than 2km and doing exercises such as squats and sit-ups.

“I like running,” he said, when asked about his favourite part of Runninghour.

Mr Ng is usually accompanied by his mother, Ms Magdalene Yip, 57. He has global developmental disability, a condition which causes delays in physical and cognitive development.

They first joined Runninghour in 2015 after finding out about the club through a friend.

“And since the first time, we’ve never stopped (coming for runs),” said Ms Yip.

Ms Yip added that her son enjoys the social interaction and friendships with other club members.

“I think Runninghour is truly one of the most inclusive activities that we have now in Singapore, where the person with disabilities is actually doing things alongside mainstream persons,” she added.

For Ms Kang, who joined the club eight years ago, Runninghour continues to give her a strong sense of belonging even though she can no longer run with them as regularly, due to her training schedule with the Para Cycling Federation of Singapore.

“I always feel I belong when I’m with them, and that’s a very powerful feeling,” she said. “They are very dedicated, very committed people. I appreciate them a lot.”

INSPIRED THROUGH RESILIENCE, INCLUSIVITY

Runninghour’s only employee is Ms Fathima Zohra, 23.

Three years ago, she met with a car accident that left her instantly paralysed from the neck down.

Her social worker introduced her to Mr See Toh in 2019, who then offered her the role of programme manager — her first job after the injury.

“I’m very grateful that they gave me a chance to work,” she said. “When I joined Runninghour, they were not looking at my disability, they were looking at me like a person.”

Nowadays, Ms Zohra organises Runninghour events and coordinates with club partners. She also models on weekends and advocates for disabilities and mental health on social media.

Ms Tan Siok Keng, 38, moved to Singapore two years ago and found out about Runninghour after volunteering with a similar social enterprise, Care2Run, back in Malaysia.

The legal counsel joined Runninghour as a guide in June 2019, and now regularly volunteers during Saturday morning runs.

By interacting with the buddies, caregivers and other guides, she has learnt to be more understanding, compassionate and patient, she said.

“We need to appreciate life better,” she added, tearing up. "Despite all these challenges, it's like there are no hurdles for them in life."

When Ms Tan Hui Ping first heard about Runninghour, she thought it was an interesting and noble cause but did not dare to volunteer because she was doubtful of her own running abilities.

After taking part in the Run for Inclusion in 2016, she took the plunge and joined as a guide.

When she hears about the participants’ life stories, determination and “never give up attitude”, she is inspired, said Ms Tan.

For example, one of the beneficiaries has run marathons, climbed mountains and completed overseas trails despite being visually impaired, she said.

“As I give, I find that I receive so much more,” she said. “I guide them in running, but they guide me in running my own life.”