Duke-NUS steps to new heights for fundraising: 15000 floors to climb, countless lives to uplift

On 8 January, the Duke-NUS community laced up their sneakers for a stair-climbing extravaganza. Kicking off Project DOVE's month-long “Climb-and-Walkathon”, students, faculty, and staff embarked on a spirited challenge to collectively conquer 15,000 floors.

This stair-climbing adventure is the first in a series of events and activities organised by the student-led Duke-NUS Overseas Volunteering Expedition (Project DOVE) aimed at raising funds for their upcoming community service projects to Nepal and Sri Lanka, with each milestone reached unlocking generous donations from school management, staff and supporters.

“Each contribution, big or small, helps fuel our vision for improving lives beyond Singapore and brings us a little closer to realising a project that we hope will bring basic medical care and sustainable education to underserved communities in the region,” said Ms Bianche Lim, a third-year MD student who is leading Project DOVE’s outreach efforts to Nepal.

Getting ready to ditch the elevators // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

Before the kick-off, event coordinator of the steps challenge, third-year MD student Mr Lim Jia Jing Samuel, gives a safety briefing // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

“It’s really great to see how the project has expanded,” said Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman, adding that the project not only benefits local communities around the region but also helps students develop their professional identities.

Calling on supporters to have their chequebooks and digital payment apps ready, Prof Coffman led the group up Duke-NUS’ grand staircase.

As well as supporting a good cause, the student organisers behind the stairs challenge hope that this activity will encourage individuals to find new moments for fitness.

“Climbing more than five flights of stairs has been found to lower an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” said Project DOVE fund-raising lead and second year medical student Mr Teo Kai Qin, who helped organise the event and is part of the team heading to Sri Lanka later this year. “We hope this activity will encourage more people to sign up for their health and a good cause.”

Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman addresses the participants before kicking off the challenge // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

And the climb begins! // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

Those who participated in the stairs challenge kick-off event, also heard from alum Dr Anuradha Pandey (Class of 2015), Duke-NUS Alumni Association President, who talked about how she incorporates fitness into her daily life, despite her work commitments as a consultant in paediatric emergency medicine. During her talk, Dr Pandey also shared some life lessons gleaned from her hiking trip to the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas.

With the challenge now underway, Mr Teo hopes to see more people signing up: “We’re grateful to each and every sign up. Seeing the Duke-NUS family walk side by side for a cause we care deeply about is a moment I’ll always remember. Onwards and upwards!”

The Climb-and-Walkathon runs from 8 January to 6 February, culminating in a 12.1 km walkathon on 8 February.

To give to Project DOVE, click here.

Still all smiles after three flights of stairs // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

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Duke-NUS steps to new heights for fundraising: 15000 floors to climb, countless lives to uplift

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