The Business Times, Monday, November 9, 2009 ● CHARITY RACE 2009 27

Assisi Hospice’s the winner

IT was a Sunday afternoon to remember for the Assisi
Hospice, which is dedicated to the care of people with
life-threatening illnesses. Some 250 friends and
supporters turned up at the Singapore Turf Club on
Nov 1 to show that they care for it too. Gracing the
charity luncheon as the guest-of-honour was Vivian
Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development,
Youth and Sports. The event was organised by The
Business Times, The Financial Women’s Association
of Singapore (FWA) and Well Wishers of Assisi Hospice.
And the highlight of the afternoon was an open
auction conducted by legal eagles Thio Shen Yi and
Stephanie Yuen-Thio of TSMP Law Corp. An earlier
auction was conducted by the Associate Editor of Torque
magazine, Tony Tan. Bidding was enthusiastic and
the biggest amount fetched was $15,000 – for a grey
South Sea pearl necklace. Other notable items on auction
included a Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atmos clock – which went
for $11,000 – and a pair of business class return tickets
to Beijing on Singapore Airlines with a three-night suite
stay at Raffles Beijing Hotel – which garnered the rather
auspicious sounding $9,888.
In all, the charity drive raised $290,000, from table
sales and donations, besides the auctions. The largest
donation of $25,000 came from an anonymous
well-wisher. And a $10,000 pledge had come from a
donor after the formal cheque presentation, in memory
of his sister, Amelia Tham.
The Assisi Hospice, an outreach service of Mount
Alvernia Hospital, was established in 1969 by the
Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
Catholic Sisters. It accepts patients of all ages, religious
faiths and financial status.
By ARTHUR LEE

Fruitful effort: Chairman of the organising committee and BT editor Alvin Tay and his all-ladies committee with the cheque for the funds raised for the hospice. The ladies
(from left) are Joanne Ho, Tan Seck Geok, Shiela Gomez, Emily Lim, Woo Sin Yue, Diana Ee-Tan, Jacqueline Chua, Junie Foo, Chan Ee Lin (FWA president) and Gillian Kang

Supporting a good cause: The big turnout at the Singapore

Turf Club luncheon during which there were charity auctions
for the hospice
VIP: Guest of Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan gracing the
Sunday charity luncheon

Vantage point:
Guests enjoying
the excellent view
of the races from
the Turf Club’s
Committee Box

Do I hear $10,000? Legal eagles turned auctioneers for the event, Mr Thio Shen Yi Silent bid: A guest putting in his offer for an
and wife Stephanie Yuen-Thio encouraging the bids at one of the auctions auction item that has caught his eye
Fashionistas:
Ladies who lunch
– at the race Precious: The grey South Sea
pearl necklace making its rounds
before going for $15,000

Auspicious $9,888: Mr Tham Tuck Cheong and

wife Joanna winning the two SIA Business Class I got it! A jubilant Mr Malcolm Tan after he outbid
tickets and stay at Raffles Beijing Hotel others for the Samsung Series 8 LED TV