POSB staff and customers can run to raise cash for underprivileged children on July 12 at Sengkang East Drive.

Proceeds from the inaugural POSB Run for Kids will go to an education welfare fund for primary schoolchildren and the Singapore Children's Society.

The fund, which will be managed by the Punggol Central Citizens Consultative Committee, will help pupils studying at the 39 primary schools in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. The North East Community Development Council will match, dollar for dollar, proceeds raised for the fund.

The head of DBS Bank's consumer banking group, Mr Rajan Raju, hopes many of the bank's four million customers will take part. The total number of participants will be capped at 5,000.

'Having witnessed how many have donated generously to the victims of the tsunami and the Sichuan earthquake, we're confident that, together, we can make a difference to the community,' Mr Raju said.

Serious runners can sign up for the 8km competitive run, while leisure joggers can opt for the 3.5km event and children can take on the 1.6km circuit.

Participants need to register for the charity run. The fee is $30 for adults and $5 for children.

The support given by those in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC has been heartwarming, said Mr Raju. About 130 students from Compassvale Secondary, for example, have volunteered to help assemble race packs for participants.

GABRIEL CHEN

This article was first published in The Straits Times.