Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) today launched their first fundraising campaign for 2021, Walk for Mental Wellness. Beyond fundraising, the campaign aims to raise awareness about mental health and to highlight the challenges of caregiving for people with mental health issues.

“Through this campaign, we wish to shine the spotlight on caregiving, with the aim to enable greater empathy for our ‘Hidden Heroes’. We hope our efforts contribute towards destigmatising the topic of mental illness, and move us towards a place of inclusivity, understanding and acceptance of people with mental health issues and the people caring for them,” said Tim Lee, CAL’s Executive Director.

About the Campaign

The campaign brings together mental wellness champions and advocates who will rally the public to donate towards their walk. Based on the idea of “You Donate, They Walk”, the campaign encourages donors to channel their donations to the Mental Wellness (MW) Champion of their choice. Every $100 raised translates to 1 km of walking or running. The MW Champion will have to cover the equivalent distance (in KM) to match the donation amount under their fundraising “account”. They are given 4 weeks to complete their walk/run (17 April to 16 May).

Donors can track their champion’s progress via the chart on the campaign website.

The line-up of mental wellness champions features personalities and organisations who have been strong advocates for mental wellness in Singapore. The campaign will also highlight the range of services offered by the champions so that the public is better informed of what help and resources are available.

Speaker of Parliament Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, MP of Bukit Batok Mr Murali Pillai, Ex-Nominated MP Ms Anthea Ong, CEO of KTPH Prof Chua Hong Choon, Dr Tan Weng Mooi, CAL’s Co-Founder Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, CAL’s first Board Chairman, Mr Keith Chua, KTPH CEO Prof Chua Hong Choon, as well as Team Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Team National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and Team Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) have all kindly agreed to come onboard as MW Champions.

Also supporting the campaign are actor Adrian Pang and national athlete Constance Lien, a mental health advocate who despite an eating disorder became Singapore’s first Jiu-Jitsu world champion.

The link between mental health and physical activity is well-documented and CAL would like to encourage members of the public to also take a 1km walk.

“Walking is a great way to destress and give your brain a break,” says Tim. “This is also a great chance to check in with a friend that you haven’t heard from in a while and invite them to go for a walk together.”

Anyone who wishes to participate can make a donation and tag a friend on social media (using the hashtag #W4MWChallenge) to inform them that they’ve been nominated to walk. The friend will then have to walk 1km, after which they can nominate the next person.

For more information about the campaign visit www.cal4mentalwellness.sg

Images: Caregivers Alliance Ltd (CAL)