2,300 participants came together for NUS Run BIG 2022, with all race proceeds going towards NUS Annual Giving Bursaries.
At NUS Giving Run BIG 2022, 2,300 participants banded together to cover a total distance of 53,000 km in support of financially disadvantaged NUS students.
A heavy downpour did little to dampen the spirits of those who participated in the physical race segment of NUS Giving Run BIG (‘Believe in Giving’) 2022. The third edition of the much-anticipated annual run saw 2,300 participants come together to cover an impressive total distance of 53,000 km, with all race proceeds being donated to the NUS Annual Giving Bursaries to benefit students in need.
Organised by the NUS Development Office which cultivates and supports philanthropic support to the University, NUS Giving Run BIG was organised in a hybrid format for the first time this year – runners could choose between the Virtual Challenge, Campus Run, or both.
Clocking the miles virtually for a good cause
Participants of the NUS Giving Run BIG 2022 Virtual Challenge could collect achievement badges and unlock rewards via an app as they hit various distances whilst running at their own time and place.
Throughout the month of September, participants who registered for the NUS Giving Run BIG Virtual Challenge ran at their own time and place, collecting achievement badges and unlocking rewards such as vouchers and gifts from Run BIG sponsors as they clocked various distances.
Virtual Challenge runners also had the option to form a team of four to complete the 190.5 km Team Challenge; a symbolic target chosen to commemorate the year 1905, when the local community rallied together under the leadership of Mr Tan Jiak Kim, President of the Straits Chinese British Association, to open a medical school – NUS’ predecessor institution.
“I’m very happy to support NUS students in need in my own small way. I believe in giving and I'm looking forward to next year’s run as well,” said Mr Tan Zineng, a Virtual Challenge participant.
At the NUS Giving Run BIG 2022 Campus Run, participants from local running club Running Hour took the rain in their stride and ran indoors instead, even posing for a photo with NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (second row, fourth from left) and NUS’ mascot LiNUS.
The NUS Giving Run BIG Campus Run made a highly anticipated comeback on 25 September, three years after the last in-person Campus Run held in 2019. Participants registered for either a 5 km Fun Run or a 10 km Competitive Run within the scenic NUS Kent Ridge campus, but these eventually had to be cancelled due to heavy and persistent rainfall on race day. Undeterred, some enthusiastic runners from local running club Running Hour gamely completed their run indoors at NUS University Town instead.
Participants of the NUS Giving Run BIG 2022 Campus Run also got to enjoy various fringe activities, such as a mass Zumba workout, immersive augmented reality and virtual reality activities, and a lucky draw.
Sharing his thoughts on this year’s edition of NUS Giving Run BIG, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said: “This year’s run is even more special as 100 per cent of the race proceeds will go towards supporting NUS Annual Giving Bursaries. The generous support will enable our students to become future changemakers. We are certain that this will also inspire many of them to pay it forward by contributing in their own ways to our community.”
To see highlights of NUS Giving Run Big 2022, check out this video.
To empower the next generation by donating to NUS Giving, click here.
This story was first published on 13 October 2022 on NUS News. Click here for more NUS News stories.
