Lend a hand to keep feet happy in Cambodia

On a trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2007, Ms Grace Chia and Ms Deborah Chew came across a hotel which was helping young people in an unusual but important way.

The hotel was trying to provide footwear for Cambodian kids who had to walk more than 3km to get to school.

Many did it barefoot, while some had slippers.

Both women came up with Project Happy Feet to help the hotel.

Five years on, Project Happy Feet has grown, raising more than $300,000 for various charity organisations through fund-raising events like Chefs for a Cause and the Project Happy Feet Slipper Race.

Project Happy Feet Slipper Race is inspired by the underprivileged children in third world countries and aims to raise $250,000 for the education of needy kids.

The amount will be channelled to two organisations: This Life, a Cambodia-based community development organisation focusing on education, and Compassion Fund, a crisis response fund to help needy students from low-income families in Singapore.

The race is non-competitive, requiring its participants to walk in Crocs slippers instead of running.

Seasoned marathon runner, Madam Jenap Said, 53, has traded her running shoes for Crocs slippers for the event.

She will be walking from Project Happy Feet’s office at Jalan Pisang Road to the flag-off point at Angsana Green, East Coast Park, to join the rest of the participants for the “race”.

Registrations for the Project Happy Feet Slipper Race are nowopen till Oct 21 and can be done at the race’s official website phfslipperrace.org. The $35 registration fee from each participant will be channelled to the beneficiaries.

FYI

WHAT: Project Happy Feet Slipper Race

WHEN: Sunday, Nov 4

WHERE: Angsana Green, East Coast Park

REGISTRATION: $35. Closes on Oct 21.

For more info go to phfslipperrace.org WALK THE TALK:The various sponsors and organisers for Project Happy Feet Slipper Race 2012 at its launch at the Crocs store in Marina Square.

This article was first published in The New Paper