HFH Singapore’s Barefoot Charity Walk Draws 5,000 People

Individual Supporters Help Boost Funds Raised To S300,000

The 2012 Bare Your Sole exceeded the number of participants and funds raised for the previous year’s event.

SINGAPORE, 18 July 2012: About 5,000 people gamely walked 2.5 km. or 5 km. barefoot in aid of Habitat for Humanity Singapore.

With support from title sponsor British banking group Barclays, Bare Your Sole 2012 was held at a Singapore park on 2 June, raising about S300,000 (US237,000). The sum was boosted by individual supporters such as Paul Hopkins and Ong Li Li and their friends who walked a total of about 200 km. before the event.

Food, music, games and other entertainment were part of the lineup of carnival activities for the morning. Nathan Hartono, home-grown singer with two solo jazz albums and a DVD album, performed for thousands of barefoot walkers.

This year’s event featured a Habitat Village designed by students from Singapore Polytechnic using recycled materials. A focal display was the Up Flat (most of Singapore’s population lives in government-subsidized apartments or flats). Balloons will lift a “flat” built with carton boxes into the air to symbolize Habitat supporters’ help reaching families in need.

Last year’s event attracted more than 4,000 walkers and raised over S130,000 (about US103,000) for Habitat’s work.