Bungee jumpers leap to raise funds for patients with serious life-limiting illnesses.
On 15 June, Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) organised Leap for Hospices, aiming to set the record for the most number of people doing bungee jumps in a day for the Singapore Book of Records (SBOR) while raising funds to benefit the palliative care community.
t was all smiles on a day of exhilarating fun, with 90 participants taking the leap to set an unprecedented record. The bungee jumpers, comprising members of the public, corporate and community partners, and SHC sta, showed up at Skypark Sentosa by AJ Hackett on a cool Saturday afternoon, raring to go.
SHC Executive Director Ms Sim Bee Hia expressed her gratitude for the enthusiasm of the participants, “The courage and faith to step offthe ledge underscore the passion and spirit of palliative care providers, hospice patients and caregivers.”
While kickstarting conversations on palliative care might initially be terrifying, just like a bungee jump, all it takes is for someone to put the first foot forward. Marcus Lee, a 24-year-old student, was ecstatic to check off an item on his bucket list. He jumped at the chance to take part in the event when his friend from the palliative care sector asked him along, sharing that he was happy to be part
of a meaningful event.
“Palliative care is a very important topic to speak about, but it can also be intimidating to some of us. It’s kind of like doing a bungee jump for me. I want to do it, but I’m a little scared. Being able to do this with so many people makes it easier, and likewise, knowing that so many people are passionate about advocating for palliative care makes it easier to talk about end-of-life matters,” he explained.
SHC is heartened by the support for the palliative care community and would like to extend its gratitude to all donors and bungee jumpers. Special thanks to Skypark Sentosa by AJ Hackett, Econ Healthcare Group and BFT Geylang Bahru (BFT) for pledging bungee jumpers to ensure that dignified care at the end of life is accessible to all.