Charity. Posted on 22nd Jul 2011, 10:14pm by Alvin

I’m not the type to accept charity.

But last weekend made me realize that charity comes from the most unexpected places.

Last weekend, I took part in a 2-day 1-night race around Singapore. Amazing-race-style, we had our wallets and handphones sealed, and had to get around to various checkpoints all over Singapore completing various tasks. Our headache was, of course, trying to get to each checkpoint across the island.

Feeling really “refreshed” after running around Kallang River for 2 hours completing mini-station-games, we managed to hitchhike with one really kind lady. “R” drove the 4 of us from Lavender MRT area, all the way to Old Holland Road to our first checkpoint. “R” even waited for us at the checkpoint while we completed our tasks, then gave us a short ride out to the main road.

From there, we managed to hitch another ride from a pleasant couple, who were visiting the dis-used KTM rails at Bt Timah. They were really kind to send us all the way to West Coast Park! We chatted a bit on the ride, and realized that their son was actually a M2 student in NUS – what a coincidence! Certainly hope they didn’t feel “pressured” to help his great-great-grand seniors in the competition.. =P

After completing our tasks, we met our 3rd angel! We bumped into this young Malay man at West Coast Park, who on hearing that we needed to head down to Yio Chu Kang area, without a single word – told us to hop onboard. Then there’s the 4th angel, who despite being on his way to a gym 5mins from his house, agreed to drive us from Yio Chu Kang all the way to East Coast Park and forgo his gym session!

A lady on her way to a conference at Orchard Road on a Sunday morning, who detoured to Vivocity to send us on our way; a young man on his way to the Bird Park for a course, who sent us from Chinese Gardens to NUS swimming complex; a kind professor couple who braved the Sunday afternoon Orchard Road and City Hall area traffic snarfu to send us from NUS to City Hall MRT.. Their kindness certainly touched me deeply.

These individuals went out of their way, not expecting anything in return, to lend us a helping hand (or a set of wheels in this case). 4 random individuals (although wearing the same event shirt) knocking on their windows, asking for a ride to somewhere really inconvenient – and they agreed. I myself would even think twice before letting 4 complete strangers into my car, let alone drive them halfway across the island! Caught up in this rat race, we as Catholic doctors must never forget to show the kindness and charity to the patients and people around us!

Would you offer me a lift?