Fund-raising ride for the needy elderly

Mr Koh, on a motorcycle for the first time, riding pillion behind Mr Aris Hassan, one of the bikers in the Riders Aid event yesterday. — ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG By Amelia Tan

Retiree Koh Tian Seong, 78, had a memorable day on Sunday: It was the first time he rode pillion on a motorcycle.

The ride from the Public Utilities Board Recreation Club to Singapore Power (SP) Club, both in Woodleigh Park, lasted just minutes.

It was nonetheless exciting for the man, whose Sundays are usually spent in front of the television set in his one-room rental flat in Marsiling. He and two other beneficiaries of voluntary welfare organisation Swami Home Help Service had ridden on motorcycles that were in a fund-raising convoy of 1,000 bikers.

The event, organised by Riders Aid, took the riders from the heavy-vehicle carpark near Tampines Road to the SP Club in Woodleigh Park, where the money raised was handed over to the SP Heartware Fund, which supports programmes for the needy elderly.