The Singapore-based crowdfunding charity Ray of Hope is organising Walk for Hope 2025 on August 2. The goal is to raise SGD 500,000 with the help and participation of thousands of Singapore citizens, residents, and avid walkers. This noble event has the support of Singapore’s political and business leaders Cai Yinzhou, Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC MP; and Ben King, Country Managing Director, Google Singapore.
The Singapore-registered media company Connected to India and the creative agency Huddl are the media partners of Walk for Hope 2025, while the Singapore-based fitness groups Wednesday Walkers and Trekkers@Heart are allied with the charity event.
For those participating in Walk for Hope 2025 and/or donating to the good cause, can the event be complete without a glimpse into the lives of the people who have been aided by Ray of Hope? Here are five stories of beneficiaries who got that helping hand at a time of dire need. Their stories tell us how every dollar you give can strengthen the lifeline for someone.
Beneficiary name: Lakshimi
Life is cruel for a woman stuck in a bad marriage; it is even harder when she gathers courage to come out of it and raise her children on her own. That is the story of Lakshimi, an Indian-origin woman in Singapore. She has left an abusive marriage and is struggling to give enough time to her two young sons, Aaron and Leon, while also doing a part-time job and studying for better career prospects.
The abuse from the marriage has left her older boy traumatised and in need of regular counselling, while the younger one was born with kidney problems and needs frequent medical checkups.
Amidst being pulled in all directions, Lakshimi has appealed to Ray of Hope for a sum of SGD 2,700 that would enable her to hire a live-in helper. This is an ongoing campaign, and the money will partially cover her live-in helper’s salary for 6 months. Without this money, Lakshimi will be forced to give up her diploma studies for a full-time job. With this money, her family can carry on.
Beneficiary name: Mages
Mages has suffered the double whammy of a debilitating accident and years of domestic abuse, but this survivor has fought through it all for the sake of her 11-year-old daughter. Undeterred by chronic pain and receiving no government assistance, she has turned to upskilling for better job prospects. Ray of Hope has successfully raised SGD 3,600 to support her grocery needs for six months.
Mages was involved in a motorbike accident in 2010 while six months pregnant, resulting in permanent damage to her right foot and ankle. In 2012, she lost her first husband, and since then, she has been the sole caregiver and provider for her daughter. Her second marriage in 2020 turned into hell, when her alcoholic husband began beating Mages and her daughter, then under 10 years of age.
Despite her nursing qualification, her chronic physical pain has forced Mages to give up her local hospital job. Her subsequent job in retail is taxing, but she has been managing and brings home a few hundred dollars per month. The grocery money support has given Mages some relief and the space to focus on gaining skills for a better life.
Beneficiary name: Mr Gan
Paralysed from waist down for more than 50 years — victim of an operation gone wrong when he was 21 years of age — Mr Gan needed money to repair and renovate the old HDB flat where he lives with his cancer-stricken wife. These modifications would make features inside the flat more accessible and safer for the ailing couple.
A Ray of Hope campaign generated SGD 26,773 for Mr Gan and his wife and the flat renovation was coordinated by Neighbours for Life (NFL). The happy and grateful beneficiary couple now regularly attends the annual Lunar New Year lunch events organised by Ray of Hope.
Beneficiary name: Silvia
Silvia moved to Singapore in 2010 in search of work, married in 2013, and then had two children. The man who appeared nice enough while they dated turned into an abuser once they were married. Silvia stayed in this hell for quite some time for the sake of her children, but then decided to climb out of it.
Ray of Hope helped her raise SGD 5,269 in legal fees, money that was crucial for funding Silvia’s legal fight against her abusive husband. Silvia had to procure a Personal Protection Order (PPO), and even tried for reconciliation, but ultimately filed for divorce. The exhausting divorce proceedings went on for a year, but finally — with the help of donors — Silvia and her children are now free.
At present, Silvia and her children are not just beneficiaries of Ray of Hope, but also active participants in community events. With the experience of what her own children have suffered, she often takes the initiative to identify and give guidance to other children in need. Meanwhile, she is also building a home-based business for financial independence.
Beneficiary name: Anisah and Affian
Anisah and Affian have five children, one of whom — a son named Aniq — has multiple disabilities. Their misfortune came when Affian, a driver by profession, fell seriously ill in the middle of 2024 and lost a lot of income. Their financial condition deteriorated quickly, and debts piled up. Anisah was unable to work, as she was the full-time caregiver for Aniq.
Ray of Hope raised a sum of SGD 6,416 to support the family’s essential expenses for six months, including Aniq’s care, other children’s tuition fees, food, and other household needs. The family members are now active volunteers, from attending Ray of Hope events to delivering meals and hosting Iftar during Ramadan.
