At the Singapore National Stadium
At 8 pm on a Saturday, the atmosphere at Singapore National Stadium was festive. Loud music played in the background as the 400 m running track echoed with the thuds of hundreds of galloping feet. The word “HOPE” spelled in large lavender letters in the central oval invited people to write messages on each alphabet. A group of dancers enthusiastically grooved to peppy music on a small stage. There were balloons and hydration stations, and groups of all sizes and ages milled around.
I scoured the crowd for familiar faces and soon found a handful of my colleagues who had arrived early. They had occupied a spot at the edge of the open arena. With bags of bananas and oranges, bottles of water and energy drinks, and a few camping chairs and mats spread out for lounging, our group slowly gathered.
What exactly were we doing on the track in a stadium that I had previously visited as a mere spectator at sporting and musical events?
Supporting a cause
On International Women’s Day this year, I, along with my family, chose to participate in the Relay for Life organized by the Singapore Cancer Society which began on the evening of 8 March 2025 and ended the next morning. The 100KM challenge is a non-competitive, overnight walk/run around the relay track at Singapore National Stadium. Every participating team has to ensure at least one member stays on the track all through the night and the team has to collectively complete the target distance over 12 hours.
This annual event builds awareness, raises funds, and brings together people whose lives have been touched by cancer. The three phases of the Relay For Life include celebrating cancer warriors, remembering lost loved ones, and fighting back against the disease together as a community.
Although I have been involved in developing new treatments for various conditions including cancer throughout my professional life, I had never participated in such an event before.
What you do every day matters
I have always considered myself fortunate to be engaged in a career that has the potential to treat or cure illness or at the very least, improve the quality of life of patients. That is my job. Outside of work, there are things that I love to do – read, write, and connect with people.
There are many ways in which people contribute their time, energy and money to causes that are close to their heart. And I have always taken the easy road – making regular donations, writing about topics, engaging in meaningful conversations.
Despite my limited physical abilities and overall lack of interest in sports, I signed up for the relay. Stepping up and committing, not just for a walk but to run was much more than just getting out of my comfort zone. Yet, I felt up for it this year.
Lip service versus true action
Like birthdays and anniversaries that are celebrated once a year to mark a special day, events are planned to coincide with days that have been earmarked to showcase certain causes. International Women’s Day is one such day where people make an effort to showcase the contributions of women not just in their professions but also to acknowledge their role in families, communities, and societies.
However, in recent years, I have been disappointed to find most of the words and messages circulating on this day to be borrowed and downright hollow. From Whatsapp messages that are mindlessly forwarded to eloquent quotes that are blatantly reproduced without proper attribution, the casual lip service paid to the day makes me wonder about the purpose of these declarations.
Given my feminist leanings and the amount of time I have spent introspecting my life as a woman across countries and over the decades, I was taken aback by my reluctance to write a strongly worded article or social media post on the topic of Women’s Day. My reticence surprised me, but it also felt futile to respond to what seemed to be merely a checkbox exercise played out in public without any original thinking or genuine emotion.
I was sure I had better things to do with my time. Like running, for instance.
Making a tiny difference
As the hour allocated to our small sub-group to run the 16 km distance in a two-hour time slot approached, we stood up and stretched. I felt intimidated by the hardcore runners who sprinted by with a single-minded focus. Some were determined to also have fun, given their colorful superhero costumes. One woman jogged at a steady pace with a hula loop casually swinging around her hips. A couple of young men in running shorts kept up a steady pace and had been running for at least four hours. One man ran in flip-flops!
As I wondered whether I was going to help my team or hinder them with my tortoise-like speed, a smiling group in pink t-shirts walked by slowly holding up a banner with the words “Relay for Life – Survivors Celebrating Life”. The word SURVIVOR was prominently printed on their shirts. These were the people to whom our work had made the difference between life and death. They were the ones for whom our everyday efforts mattered. Today I was fortunate to enjoy the privilege of walking alongside them. I smiled as I took the baton from my daughter for my lap.
Every life matters, and what we do with our life matters. But everything doesn’t have to be competitive or for public consumption. With small steps, each of us can harness the power that comes with taking a stand, in our own way.
Words are one way.
Walking is another.
So that is what I did on International Women’s Day this year. I ran a few laps. It was not just about women, it was about being human, being vulnerable, and being counted.
I didn’t add much to the overall 100 km that my team managed to complete in the allotted time, but I am sure my bit counted too. And I’m glad I did it.