I’m racing for those who face challenges no finish line can end

Hi friends, 

This December, I’m tackling my first ever Ironman triathlon in Western Australia: a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride, and then a marathon, all in one very long day. In short, it is pain, more pain, and a hint of madness for good measure.

My journey with endurance sports actually started years ago. I did my first biathlon at just 7 and completed my first triathlon at age 8. After that, I focused on other sports, setting endurance aside for much of my youth. Only now am I taking it on again, challenging myself to do a full Ironman for the very first time. 

If you’re wondering why anyone would do this, I ask myself the same thing with every early morning swim and every sore muscle. Since I’m putting myself through all this, I want it to count for more. 

I’m dedicating my race to raising funds for Ray of Hope, a small Singapore charity supporting families in crisis, struggling students, and migrant workers far from home. One thing I love: 100% of your donation goes straight to those who need it, no detours.

Even better, every dollar you give to Ray of Hope’s Hope Circle will be matched through the Tote Board Enhanced Fundraising Scheme. Your generosity will have double the impact, unlike my legs at the finish line, which might have nothing left.

If you’d like to see me crawl or invent a new way to cross the finish line, I’d be so grateful if you chipped in. Your support and encouragement will keep me moving, and together, we’ll help Ray of Hope continue building a caring community. 

Thanks so much for cheering me on, and maybe for helping me up afterwards. 

Ethan 

About Ray of Hope 

Ray of Hope is Singapore’s only crowdfunding charity committed to serving emerging and unmet needs. We serve anyone who works, studies or lives in Singapore regardless of nationality and citizenship status:

🟠 Primary Group: Singaporeans from low-income families facing sudden hardship such as illness, injury and sudden unemployment, or caregiving responsibilities.

🟠 Extended Support: Vulnerable groups living within our community who face unique barriers to traditional aid, such as migrant brothers, stateless individuals, and foreign spouses/children in crisis.

Our 3 Pillars

🟠 Crowdfunding:
Campaigns that provide financial assistance to families and individuals in crisis, as well as community-based campaigns that align with Community Impact’s focus on emerging and unmet needs.

🟠 Casework:
Every campaign whether for an individual or a community initiative is verified by our case or partnerships team, respectively. Ensuring accountability and dignity at every stage.

🟠 Community Building:
Working alongside corporates, NGOs, ground-up groups and government agencies to mobilise resources, co-design initiatives, and extend help to groups excluded from conventional support. These partnerships allow us to amplify impact and address gaps more holistically.

Amplifying Impact

Funds raised through this campaign will be matched by Tote Board’s Enhanced Fundraising Scheme (EFR), which will amplify the impact of your contribution. The matched funds will enable Ray of Hope to continue verifying and supporting cases, ensuring that every campaign on our platform is genuine. This is what makes it possible for donations to reach those who need it most.

Ray of Hope does not replace existing aid. Instead, we step in to bridge urgent gaps where conventional systems may fall short. We work closely with social service agencies and government partners so our efforts complement, rather than duplicate, existing schemes.

Every act of giving, no matter how small, ripples out to touch countless lives. Every dollar helps us keep the lights on so we can continue to serve Singapore’s most vulnerable communities.