ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Linda writes: " Hi, this is Linda Mah, I am just an ordinary Singaporean, getting old and going into my silver years! I have nothing much to talk about myself except that I have two stories to share:
I started going to the gym once a week in 2003 and had since increased to 3 times a week. I realised that as we age, excercise should be a part of life to stay healthy and strong.Last year, we have a very nice gym instructor who inspires us to run despite her busy schedule and since then a small group was formed. In fact,she created this passion for running in everyone of us, so we started signing up for all the runs possible and everyone in the group now has the confidence to run 5 km anytime!I will be running for the coming GE run this year too.
I would like to take this opportunity to share two stories with all of you.
12 years ago, someone I knew was diagnosed with breast cancer.On one occasion, she came to Singapore as her husband was on a business trip here.She travelled alone and I was asked to go to the airport to take her to the Oriental Hotel. I was shocked when she came out in a wheelchair, I almost couldn't recognise her.
I took her out to eat and shop around Marina Square and before going back to the Hotel which is just next to Marina Sq, she asked if we could take a taxi from there back to the Oriental Hotel, as she found it too diffcult to climb the stairs...
I wonder whether anyone reading this knows the Oriental hotel well, there are about 6or 7 steps from Marina Sq mall to the hotel and no lift access...
To us, it would sound ridiculous to take a taxi as the hotel is just round the corner. I thought so too at that time, and in fact, worried that no taxi would take us. In the end, I made her climb the stairs slowly.
After leaving Singapore, she was admitted to the hospital immediately and died a few days later in Hong Kong. After this incident, I regretted not taking the taxi and told myself in future that anyone who is ill/needs my help and requests anything that may sound ridiculous/impossible to me, I will not say NO and will try to ease their pain...
I have another close friend from Taipei (Taiwan) who was diagnosed with cancer in May this year. She has been in hospital ever since.I just called to check on her condition before writing this and heard that she is in a critical condition...
To me, she has always been very healthy over the years. I felt sad for her as I don't think she will be given a chance to recover and do things she would like to do as simple as having a meal with her family.I will try to visit her again, pray for her and hope that a miracle happens!!
So, life is short and anything can happen overnight!We should stay strong and healthy to enjoy ourselves while we can and treasure our family, friends and people around us... and help those in need wnenever possible and never take things for granted!
To BCF: Please feel free to let me know of any areas where you need volunteers..."

Linda, this is not an ordinary story. We all need reminders to make a bigger effort to help others from time to time.Thank you.