If you have ever wanted to walk, run or cycle around the world, now is your chance to be at least a small part of just that.
Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping is appealing to its friends in the industry to collectively pull up their socks and help raise up to SGD 1m ($745,000) for charity.
The plan is for everyone taking part — be they at sea or on shore, in dark northern Europe or in the tropics — to collectively walk, run or cycle a total of 40,075 km, which is roughly the earth’s circumference.
The major shipowner said it has SGD 670,000 pledged so far, which will go to seven charities.
Six of those are Singapore institutions: the Children’s Aid Society, Community Chest, Ronald McDonald House Charities, School Pocket Money Fund, Singapore Environment Council and Willing Hearts.
The seventh is a global cause, Mercy Ships, as part of its Cargo Day initiative.
Eastern Pacific chief executive Cyril Ducau, a keen cyclist, told TradeWinds: “This fundraiser is part of the EPS Cares Initiative, a programme designed to support people and charities through donations, fundraising and volunteer work.”
Participants in the event, during the week of 7 to 11 December, will be able to submit their kilometres travelled via an app, with details available shortly on the Eastern Pacific website.
Among the 24 companies that have already signed up are shipbrokers Clarksons, Braemar ACM, Eastport, Jarsin and INTLCO, so there is bound to be plenty of friendly rivalry.
Others include Hyundai Heavy Industries, Pacific Bulk Shipping, ST Shipping, XT Shipping, Ifchor, ContiOcean, DNV GL, New Times Shipbuilding, Fuji Trading, GAC, Gulf Oil Marine, North Group, Wikborg Rein and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Eastern Pacific and its sister companies in Idan Ofer’s Quantum Pacific Group are dedicated to decarbonisation and preserving the environment for future generations, Ducau said.
“That’s why we support causes that benefit the environment and the well-being of children. The EPS Around the World fundraiser is an excellent opportunity to impact the community directly. It’s also a fun way to bring the global shipping community together by working towards a shared goal.”
Eastern Pacific said the fundraiser has been approved by the Singapore Tote Board and qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar matching scheme for up to SGD 250,000 for the six local charities.
Kenon Holdings, another Quantum Pacific group company, is also supporting the event.
Chief executive Robert Rosen said: “These are all worthwhile and wonderful causes, and there is no doubt that our efforts will provide them with the funding they need to operate. When the event is over, we will look back and realise we accomplished something extraordinarily special together.”
