DESPITE difficult times, this year's Bull Charge run garnered $2.038 million in donations for 12 local charities. J Y Pillay, chairman of Singapore Exchange Ltd, said: 'The financial community has again more than risen to the occasion, with the number of institutions rallying together to support the event going up to 94 this year, up from 68 last year.'

More runners also took part - over 3,000 of them. They ran the 3.2km fun race in perfect cool weather conditions following a heavy downpour earlier in the afternoon. The Management Team Relay and the Doggie Race also remained firm favourites with many different breeds of dogs taking part.

A new event this year, Bulls-on-Wheels, saw 12 brightly decked out trishaws with colourful bull heads 'charging away'.

For the first time, this year's run was flagged off at The Float @ Marina Bay (opposite Marina Square shopping centre) by Guest-of-Honour Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth & Sports. He joined in the run a few minutes later. The new route took the runners past Marina Promenade, down Esplanade Drive and Collyer Quay, turning back at Marina Boulevard, giving runners the chance of running past the Esplanade.

The Care Community Services, Singapore Cancer Society, Singapore Anglican community services and the ST School Pocket Money Fund each received 10 per cent of the amount raised with the rest getting between 5 per cent and 9 per cent.

Now into its sixth year, the annual SGX charity fun run through the Central Business District has raised over $15 million for numerous charities.

The Bull Charge® 2009 is organised by SGX in partnership with Temasek Holdings, The Business Times, Channel NewsAsia and honorary auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers. It is also supported by the Land Transport Authority and the Singapore Sports Council.