In just a few more weeks, Singapore will see thousands of people walking. They won’t be walking just for their own health — that’s a bonus benefit, too — but for the good health of the entire Singapore society. They will be walking to bring hope to those who have little, and to inspire others to do the same.
Walk for Hope 2025, the flagship campaign of the Singapore-based crowdfunding charity Ray of Hope, was launched on May 20 at The Foundry, and the 6km walkathon takes place islandwide on 26 July 2025. The goal is to engage at least 5,000 walkers and to raise SGD 500,000 for emerging and unmet social needs.
“Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s keep walking — for hope, and for one another,” urged Guest of Honour Cai Yinzhou, People’s Action Party MP and a veteran of community work, at the launch ceremony.
Stating how each and every individual could motivate those around them, he said, “I’ve seen how powerful collective action can be. When someone says ‘yes’ to helping, others follow. When one community steps up, it inspires another. And before long, we realise we’re all connected by shared aspiration and shared responsibilities.”
Walk for Hope 2025 calls upon individuals and corporate firms to support people whose needs often go unnoticed. It is being organised by Ray of Hope in collaboration with St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI), Connected to India, and Huddl.
The launch was flagged off by Guest of Honour Cai Yinzhou, Director of Citizen Adventures, Executive Director of Chinatown Heritage Centre, and Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC. He was joined by Chief Guest Ben King, Country Managing Director, Google Singapore.
Speaking at the launch, Cai Yinzhou began by thanking Ray of Hope for its “unwavering commitment to serving the needs of those who are often unseen or underserved in our society”. He added, “As Singapore’s only crowdfunding charity focused on emerging and unmet needs, your work stands out for its agility, accountability, and trustworthiness.”
In a space where generosity meets real-life struggles, Ray of Hope offers something rare — a model that combines heart and rigour. The Walk for Hope campaign is a beautiful extension of that mission. It calls on us not just to give, but to move — to take action, to walk together, and to stand for those who might otherwise be left behind. It’s a powerful symbol: of how solidarity can be expressed not just in words or donations, but in shared footsteps.
Cai Yinzhou, PAP MP and Guest of Honour at the launch of Walk for Hope 2025
Cai Yinzhou also thanked Google Singapore and Ben King for the corporate support, which “demonstrates how corporates can lead with empathy and make real, tangible impact on the ground”.
He applauded St. Joseph’s Institution as “a school with a long-standing ethos of service”. Last year, SJI hosted three editions of the Building Community Champions series, bringing students together with migrant volunteers “in meaningful, authentic ways”, said the MP, thanking the students and teachers of SJI.
He gave “a big thank you” to the Walk for Hope 2025 media partners Connected to India and Huddl, “who are not just supporting this campaign behind the scenes, but actively amplifying its reach”.
“Your content and storytelling bring much-needed visibility to the acts of kindness and community spirit that often go unnoticed. By engaging the wider Indian diaspora and new residents, you remind us that everyone has a part to play in shaping Singapore’s future — regardless of where they started,” said the MP.
“And, of course, we must acknowledge the incredible community groups walking with us, like the Wednesday Walkers and Trekkers@Heart. These are not just fitness groups; they are examples of how shared passions can grow into shared purpose. Thank you for leading by example and showing us how movement can be joyful and meaningful,” he added.
‘Exactly the kind of ambition we need’
Describing the Walk for Hope 2025 fundraiser target of half a million Singapore dollars as “ambitious”, Cai Yinzhou said that this was “exactly the kind of ambition we need”.
Delving into who needed help, he said, “There are families facing crisis through circumstances. Caregivers stretched thin. Migrant workers injured. Seniors isolated. Young people without opportunities. Families seeking reunification.”
Many of these people unfortunately fall through the traditional safety nets, but “organisations like Ray of Hope help ensure no one is left to struggle alone”.
This Walk for Hope campaign “resonates” with him personally, because Cai Yinzhou, now a Member of Parliament, was a committed community worker earlier.
“Before stepping into political office, I spent over a decade immersed in community work — organising ground-up initiatives that responded to very real, very human needs,” said the MP.
We started small: giving haircuts in back alleys, events in back alleys and dormitories with migrant workers. To support marginalised communities to receive masks during haze; aid to Nepal during the 2015 earthquake; helping seniors in Dakota Crescent relocate and settle into new homes in 2017, I’ve crowdfunded for donations, furniture and relief supplies.
Cai Yinzhou, PAP MP, speaking about his community work
His association with Ray of Hope helped Cai Yinzhou make a big difference during the 21st century’s greatest challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, I was part of the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition, where we crowdfunded and co-ordinated essential supplies for 300,000 workers across smaller factory converted dormitories. We used Ray of Hope as a platform to do so, and the organisation raised almost a million dollars.”
Years of community work has given Cai Yinzhou the confidence that one can start small and then go big, as the ripple effect can become a wave.
Referring to “shared aspiration and shared responsibilities”, the MP elaborated on how the launch event of Walk for Hope 2025 came “full circle” for him.
He said, “Ten years ago, I was invited to share with the entire Sec 3 cohort from SJI about my work with migrant workers. One of the students reached out to me shortly after and stepped up to volunteer, helping create a website to publicise and garner support for a dormitory event during SG50.”
This Ray of Hope-organised walkathon was similar to what that student did, but on a much bigger scale, said the MP. It is “mobilising Singaporeans from all walks of life, and creating a trusted platform where anyone can give or receive support”.
Cai Yinzhou emphasised, “It’s not just about charity — it’s about restoring dignity. Empowering people not only to get back on their feet, but one day, to pay it forward.”
As we walk towards 26 July, let’s remember that every step taken matters — not just in terms of distance, but in the difference we make together. So whether you’re walking with your colleagues, your classmates, your children, or your community group — know that you are part of something larger. Something meaningful. Something hopeful.
Cai Yinzhou, PAP MP and Guest of Honour at the launch of Walk for Hope 2025
He closed his address by thanking Dr Alicia Altorfer-Ong, Executive Director of Ray of Hope, for the invitation to the launch event, “and all the organisers, volunteers, and partners involved in Walk for Hope 2025”. “Your dedication is a reminder of what’s possible when compassion is matched with commitment. Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s keep walking — for hope, and for one another. Thank you!” he said in conclusion.
