Blister Sisters: (Left to Right) Min Sik Eom, Noyna Roy, Ilana Fernandez, Anna Davies, Alessandro Chiang, Srishti Khanna, Elsa Wadhwa (Absent: Sion Park)
Run it. Raise it. End it. The motto that chanted in the minds of the runners every step they took as their leg muscles screamed in agony. Run the 24 hours, raise over $2000 and end human trafficking, one step at a time.
The 24 Hour Race held annually in Singapore, run by high school students across the island is dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, exploiting 3.5 million human beings. Up to 50% of the humans trafficked are minors, children around the high school age and younger, forced into labour or sexual slavery instead of attending school. The 24 Hour Race is a small cry out to the world, showing the victims that we are standing by them and against their traffickers. It is up to us, as high schoolers to look out for opportunities to reduce the pain and suffering of those without voices.
The race took place along the Palawan Beach, a number of international schools from all around Singapore participated. UWCD only had one team, The Blister Sisters. A combination of tenth and eleventh graders and led by Elsa Wadhwa, the Blister Sisters came second in the mixed group category. Unfortunately, UWCD does not support this event. However, the Blister Sisters are keen to try and gain support from the service committee to encourage more participants to join this incredibly powerful movement.
The objective of the race is to run the highest number of laps in 24 hours. The track was around 1.6 km long, to keep count of the laps, at one end of the path, a certified member gives the runners a popsicle stick. To complete a lap and register it on the system, the runner must present the popsicle stick to another accredited member at the other end. This was an innovative, reliable way to ensure that the runners do not try to increase their number of laps by other means.
During the course of the evening, our NYAA skills were advantageous when it came to setting up the tents and sleeping bags. As the sun began to set on Singapore’s horizon, there were a limited array of musical performances. The contestants heard one of the director's rap to Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore and HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar. Many students were singing along in unison and jumping to the music during the rap chorus, making it a very festive and upbeat occasion. After the riveting rap session, a tenth grader DJ from CIS, also known as, DJ Bubblehead, fused multiple pop songs for the audience, as they swayed around to the pulse of the familiar tunes, munched on burgers and slurped cup noodles.
As the clock struck midnight, many groups were asleep. However, some enthusiastic participants including the Dover team were prancing down the road through the night. Concerned and caring parents dropped in with dinner and cupcakes to cheer on the runners. To ensure the safety of all the students, supervisors rented bikes and rode along the pathways keeping a watchful eye on all the participants. Many members walked in groups to entertain themselves as the drowsiness began to creep in later into the night.
Participating in a 24 Hour Run has benefits and many challenges. Pulling an all-nighter and running continuously took a severe mental and physical toll on the runners. Participants varied in ability from avid gymers to beginners. However, everyone pushed themselves to make every lap count. As one runner described, “We were forced to step out of our comfort zones...it made us grow as individuals for the better, and gave our group a sense of purpose beyond ourselves”.
Apart from standing up for the rights of those without voices, this race also encouraged people to make a step in the right direction, however big or small. “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” - Nelson Mandela. Think about it. Join it. End it.
The Blister Sisters raised a total of $2676.
You can join this initiative with a group of friends by visiting the website for the next race.
Blister Sisters: (Left to Right: Alessandro Chiang, Srishti Khanna, Elsa Wadhwa, Ilana Fernandez, Noyna Roy, Anna Davies, Sion Park (Absent: Min Sik Eom)
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