DOING GOOD: Mr Mohanadas Kandiah, 49, is already onto his third pledge card for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon donation drive. He has brought in the most donations so far.

By Chia Han Keong

AVID runner Mohanadas Kandiah was inspired to raise funds for charity by a marathon he did not get to participate in.

The 49-year-old, who works as a dealer in a stockbroking firm, had applied to race in the London Marathon in April.

He entered the ballot but was not chosen.

Nonetheless, the organiser sent him proposals to donate to the Red Cross, for which the London Marathon eventually managed to raised a cool £50 million (S$118 million).

He said: "That got me thinking about running and fund-raising, and when the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon announced its donation drive, I signed up for it immediately."

The donation drive, called Run For A Cause, encourages runners to get friends and relatives to sign pledge cards.

Registration fees will be waived when runners are able to raise $300 for charities nominated by Community Chest.

Mr Kandiah has raised an impressive $15,000 - the most for a participant - and is already onto his third pledge card.

"Running gave me a new lease of life," he said. "So, I want to use running to help others as well."

Indeed, he took up running after failing his medical test 21 years ago.

After two failed attempts at completing the Singapore Marathon in 1993 and 1994, he finally succeeded in 1995.

Since then, he has been actively taking part in local and foreign marathons, and even carries along a camera to take pictures of every race he has run.

This year, he is targeting 24 races - an average of two marathons a month.

He has completed 13 so far.

The Dec 6 Singapore Marathon will be his 78th marathon, and he plans to hit 100 next year - when he turns 50.

He said: "Timing isn't important. I just want to enjoy completing races."

hankeong@sph.com.sg

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