Running with durians
It sounds dangerous! But this was no silly stunt – it was all for a good cause.
FROM egg cartons to Styrofoam boxes, baskets, and plain old gloves, the residents of a Singapore city suburb came up with creative ways to hold a durian while they ran.
About 500 people participated in the 5km durian run earlier this month. They paid S$15 (RM47) to take part in the run, after which they got to eat the durians they carried, as well as coconuts.
Proceeds from the run were donated to the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang CCC Community Development and Welfare Fund.
In neighbouring suburb Sengkang, residents got the chance to have their fill of the fruit. Throughout the day, about 4,000 people thronged Sengkang Community Club to feast on about 10,000kg of durians.
Take a peek at the thorny – yet so delicious (to the fruit’s fans) – fun in these photos. – The Straits Times/ Asia News Network MADONNA seems to have blazed a trail to Malawi. She had famously adopted two children from the East African nation previously – David in 2006, and Mercy in 2009 – and earlier this year announced the successful adoption of another two, four-year-old twins Esther and Stella.
Since the singer’s foray into the country, many others have stepped up to help less fortunate children in Malawi and other nations on the African continent. While not many can afford to adopt, people are offering support through charities and non-governmental organisations working in Africa.
In Malaysia, there are about 1,000 “sponsor parents” who provide financial aid through the Malaysian branch of the International Amitofo Care Charity Association (ACC).
Some of these generous souls got to meet “their” children recently when 21 orphans – 14 boys and seven girls, aged nine to 19 – arrived in Malaysia for a cultural programme.