Matthew Yeoh Lai Hsin, a 28-year-old Singaporean, ran 10km at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore on 30 November 2024 to raise funds tor the United Nations World Food Program (“UNWFP“).
Lai Hsin completed the race, with crutches, in 2 hours and 47 minutes.
“The recent events in Gaza, have meant that more than ever the UNWFP is in need of support. Even though humanitarian aid may be very much restricted into Gaza, the UNWFP is one of the very few organisations who, due to their operational expertise, work together with local organisations within Gaza to provide the most practical means of nutritional support, from Air Drops to financial, cash transfers and the purchase of self-sustaining food crop seeds.” – Yeoh Lai Hsin
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) snapshot – which uses global, scientific standards – projects that over 1.95 million people in Gaza (91 percent of the population) will face acute food insecurity over the coming months.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has been on the ground in Gaza since the onset of the crisis, to deliver life-saving food every day despite the mounting challenges..
Lai Hsin has been a long time supporter of the UNWFP’s work. In the 2019 edition of the Singapore Marathon, he ran the 5km category with the aid of crutches to raise funds for the UNWFP as well.
The UNWFP is currently focusing its food aid programs in regions facing severe hunger such as Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.
Why Run on Crutches?
Lai Hsin explained that he runs with the aid of crutches due to a torn ligament in his leg. He also says that the act of running with crutches symbolises that “aid may be hindered, but still persistent“.
“I hope to raise as much awareness and funds as possible for the UNWFP.
I guess I just wanted to do something because that’s better than feeling hopeless about what’s happening in the world.”
Donate to the United Nations World Food Program’s efforts in Palestine
Your gift will support any country, territory, emergency, or project that needs it most at that time in the 123 countries and territories that the UNWFP works in; this ensures that the money goes where it’s needed the most, independently of the amount of media attention an emergency is receiving in the media.
Donate to the UNWFP Greatest Need Fund here: https://u.mg.wfp.org/aYfXy2DQ
The link to the UNWFP fund (which covers efforts in countries like Palestine, Sudan, and Syria) is https://donate.wfp.org/.
Alternatively, you may also donate to the UNWFP through Lai Hsin’s GoFundMe Page at this link. Lai Hsin will transfer all funds raised through the GoFundMe portal to the UNWFP program.
Any donation would to the UNWFP would be much appreciated, but please do not feel obliged. Even sharing this link can be of great help!
For every $1 you give, 64 cents goes directly to combating hunger.
The UN World Food Program is a 100% voluntarily funded organization. For every $1 you give, 64 cents goes directly to programs supporting hungry people. 28% goes towards increasing funding via marketing, and the remaining 8% to running the program.
The United Nations World Food Program is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the world’s leading humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
“I hope people will continue to do whatever they can too in their own ways even if it seems insignificant; may not be able to immediately stop a war but we can show in the hardest times our depeest human sides ; and we should have the courage to.” – Yeoh Lai Hsin
Many runners, including Lai Hsin, pounded the pavements during the Singapore Marathon last weekend. Here are shots sent to Wake Up Singapore of two runners who also wore their heart on their sleeves.
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