Our Heroes
Each year, we select 5 inspirational heroes who embody the Jurong Lake Run Core Values of Community’, ‘Family’, ‘Hope’, ‘Courage’ and ‘Pride’. Click on the year below to find out about our heroes:
Nominate your HERO of 2013
Do you know of someone who personify one of Jurong Lake Run Core Values of Community’, ‘Family’, ‘Hope’, ‘Courage’ and ‘Pride’? If you do, nominate him or her as a HERO of Jurong Lake Run 2013 today. For more details, check out the information below.
Rules and Regulations
- Nominees should not have any existing lawsuits against them and must display good conduct at all times.
- Each nominator should only nominate one person for each value.
- The organisers of Jurong Lake Run reserves the right to make all final decisions.
Prizes
For Nominees, you stand a chance to win yourself ONE free running slot*, open to all Jurong Lake Run running categories.
Our Jurong Lake Run 2013 HEROES will win themselves ONE free running slot*, open to all Jurong Lake Run running categories. Plus, receive a Jurong Lake Run 2013 HERO plaque presented by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance.
*Running slot is transferable.
Nomination Procedures
To nominate your HERO, register via the form below or click here to print out and submit the Nomination Form to Taman Jurong Community Sports Club.
>>Refresh the page if you cannot view the form<<Profiles of the Heroes of Jurong Lake Run 2012
Renuka Satianathan Runs for Pride
This Sea Games representative has come a long way since secondary school when she was made to join the school’s Trim and Fit programme. She got frustrated with the inability to run even a kilometre without walking, and began jogging in the mornings before school to whip herself into shape. She eventually joined the schools’ cross-country team.
Going to Brisbane for university in 2007, Renuka set up a training squad where bonds forged amongst teammates and coaches inspired her to train harder. She ran her personal best at the Queensland State 10,000m championships in March 2011 and was nominated to represent for the SEA Games in November where she represented Singapore in the 10,000m run.
Renuka will begin her career as a teacher next year and while this will be her top priority now, she is determined to carry on running.
Mr. Chua and Wife Run for the Community
Their hope for the future is for more volunteers, particularly the youth, to help the less fortunate and continue strengthening the community bonds.
The couple met at a community centre where Mr. Chua was a grassroots leader. Together, they volunteered to play their part for the community in Taman Jurong and continue to do so 48 years into their marriage.
At the inaugural Jurong Lake Run 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Chua rallied senior citizens to participate in the Fun Walk, inviting them to be part of a community event to stay healthy together.
Susan Koh Runs for Family
With marriage, come obligations and responsibility – and this is exactly how Susan feels – ensuring that Sophie, who is turning three this year, is well taken care of.
Before Sophie came along, Susan and her husband used to lead a more carefree life. However, after Sophie was born, it made both of them sit up to think about their protection needs and finances because, just like all parents, they want the best for their daughter.
Juggling with demands both at work and at home, Susan is now working hard to keep herself healthy because she understands that a good physical health will put her in a good stead to manage work and her family.
Susan, together with her colleagues from AIA Singapore, will be participating in Jurong Lake Run 2012 with Sophie and her husband. Susan plans to conquer the Vertical Marathon next.
To share her journey as a juggling mom, Susan maintains a blog at www.ajugglingmom.com.
Shariff Abdullah Runs for Courage
Shariff was born without a left foot, and at age of six years, was fitted with an artificial leg. During school days in the 1970s, he participated in various extreme sports including trekking, kayaking and running. He was nicknamed the “Six Million Dollar Man” because of activeness in sports. Today, he is Singapore’s First Blade Runner and the first in Asia with a running prosthetic leg for long distances.
In 2008, he felt a pain at the stump area and amputated five inches from the stump due to a skin infection. It was an unlikely recovery over a short period and Shariff’s inspiration was the World Double Amputee Runner “Oscar Pistorius”.
In 2009, he wore the standard prosthetic leg again and started running. He also won his first medal for javelin within the same year. This gave him the courage and confidence to pursue other athletic activities in Asia. With a new flex-run prosthetic leg, Shariff started running marathons in Singapore and Malaysia.
Shariff remains inspired to achieve more, and has his sights set on climbing Mount Everest in 2015. He will be attending Technical Mountaineering Course (TMC) in India and New Zealand this year, and is seeking to raise S$120,000 for his journey and training expedition. The success of his expedition will raise funds for the Handicap Welfare Association in Singapore, helping others to achieve their goals too.
Darren Tan Runs for Hope
It was peer pressure which led Darren to join a gang and experiment with drugs at the tender age of 14. He ended up spending over 10 years in prison. It was a trying time and the repeat offender never stayed out of prison for more than a year at a time.
Disillusioned with his life, Darren decided to focus on studies to complete his ‘A’ levels in prison. His stellar performance allowed him to undergo the interview and written test to read law at the National University of Singapore. He aced both and was offered a place in the faculty one month before his release.
While studying in NUS, Darren took on a freelance position as a web programmer as well as writer and researcher. He will graduate in 2013 and has secured a practice training contract with a local law firm.
Darren is now a volunteer in DPM Tharman’s constituency and is the assistant group leader of Beacon of Life, a self-help group for ex-offenders – an initiative by Mrs. Tharman. Darren also works with youth-at-risks through organisations such as Architects of Life and Movementor. He hopes to use his experience to steer these kids away from the road he had once taken.
