In its seventh edition, the annual event, held for the first time at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub, also saw the donation of $10,000 by Skechers to APSN to purchase shoes for its beneficiaries.
On 8 June, OCBC Square at Singapore Sports Hub was abuzz with excitement as Skechers, the Comfort Technology CompanyTM and a global leader in lifestyle and performance footwear, hosted the highly-anticipated annual event of the year – the seventh Skechers Friendship Walk. Set against the scenic evening Singapore skyline, 5,000 enthusiastic participants streamed into the Skechers Race Village when it opened at 3pm, in anticipation of an evening of fun with their families, friends and furkids to celebrate the spirit of camaraderie. This year’s event had four different categories, namely the 10km competitive individual run, 4km leisure individual, buddy and family run, that participants can choose from.
A Get-together for Skechers Family and Friends
With the biggest turnout ever for Skechers Friendship Walk 2024 since it first started in 2018, this annual event provided a platform for the Skechers family and friends to gather, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to strengthen familial bonds and friendship.
Among the Skechers Management Team that graced the event were Zann Lee, Managing Director of Skechers Southeast Asia; Irene Lee, Senior General Manager, Skechers Singapore and Eileen Tan, Assistant Regional Director, Marketing, Skechers Southeast Asia.
“As we gather here with our friends, families and bond over a walk or run, I am reminded of the incredible power of friendship and community. The event would not be possible without the remarkable enthusiasm and support of each and every single one of you, making a total of 5,000 participants here today. We are extremely proud to have raised $10,000 for APSN beneficiaries this year.” said Ms Zann Lee.
Back as the host of the event for the second consecutive year was Mediacorp personality and Skechers Singapore spokesperson, Hazelle Teo (@heyhihazelle), who brought her infectious energy and enthusiasm to the stage and hyped up the event atmosphere.
The stage programme highlight was the meet and greet session with Singaporean singer/ songwriter Qiu Feng Ze (@qiufengze) as he made his first physical appearance as Skechers Singapore Brand Ambassador. He shared his thoughts on the event and the upcoming projects with the crowd. Four lucky fans also got a chance to participate in a heart-pumping game where they had to pick the correct shoes that their idol described.
Sharing his excitement “This is my first time joining Skechers Friendship Walk, I am truly honoured to be a part of this wonderful event and it is heartening to see the enthusiasm of the participants as we come together to forge stronger bonds over the activities here.”
Singapore’s artists, Edmund Chen (@edmundchen.sg), Lee Teng (@leeteng0530) and Dennis Chew (@denniszhouchongqing), were also spotted at the event with either the Skechers GOwalk 7TM or Skechers Max Cushioning®. The shoes are equipped with innovative shoes technologies featuring ULTRA GO® cushioning for extreme comfort and to absorb impact; and Skechers Air- Cooled Goga MatTM breathable insole to help the feet stay cool and comfortable during activities.
All participants were able to spot their names printed on the photo wall and had a great time taking photos. The photo wall symbolized the collective effort in making Skechers Friendship Walk possible.
Fostering An Inclusive Community
Skechers is steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive community where everyone including the less privileged and people with special needs feels connected, supported, and appreciated. APSN is a social service agency that provides special education, vocational training, and employment support services for individuals with mild intellectual disability aged seven years old and above. Skechers is an inclusive partner of APSN, offering employment opportunities within its warehouse and retail operations for APSN’s beneficiaries.
To further strengthen the partnership, Skechers donated $2 to APSN for every sign-up for Skechers Friendship Walk and raised a total of $10,000 to purchase shoes for APSN’s beneficiaries.
At this year’s Skechers Friendship Walk, APSN Centre for Adults’ delighted attendees with their delectable baked cookies, mixed nuts and handmade handicrafts. All proceeds from the sales will go towards funding their vocational training programmes and employment support services to help the individuals with special needs lead independent and fulfilling lives. Among APSN’s beneficiaries were Alexavier Ang, 24, and Samuel Lee, 27, who showcased their talents by performing “Melodica – Rhythm of the Rain” by The Cascades and an uplifting dance to “Handclap” by FITZ respectively, to the supportive crowd.
A Skechers Village of Entertainment
For the first time in Skechers Friendship Walk, Singapore homegrown buskers Danial (@danialeliasteo) and Murphy (@murph.z), Jeff Ng (@jeffhellomusic), Little Band Plus (@littlebandplus), Lyla Ng (@lylahzn), who is Singapore’s youngest busker at just 11 years old, serenaded the attendees with ‘live’ music performances. Popular TikTok content creators Simonboy (@simonboyyyyyyy) and Tommy (@tommynbcb) brought laughter and delighted the crowd with their comedic performance.
Participants also embarked on challenges to collect one stamp from any of the five game stations, Skechers Hyper Pillar Challenge, Arcade Basketball, Human Foosball, Speed Pitch Cage, Jumbo Buzzer, to enter a lucky draw for a chance to win a year’s free supply of Skechers footwear, worth $1,500. The most popular game, with a snaking queue, was the Skechers Hyper Pillar Challenge, where participants put their agility and coordination skills to the test by attempting to hop from one pillar to another pillar of different heights without falling off.
Celebrating The Win
Highlighting the achievements of the participants, Skechers Friendship Walk also announced the top 3 winners of the 10km competitive individual run.
In the men’s category, Gordon Lim, 31, showcased remarkable athleticism with a race timing of 33 minutes and 58 seconds. Following closely, Raymond Sng, 26, secured 35 minutes and 49 seconds, while Li Jingjie, 39, accomplished 36 minutes and 20 seconds.
Similarly, in the women’s category, Maki Inami, 43, emerged victorious with noteworthy race timing of 35 minutes and 59 seconds. Recording impressive timings of 41 minutes and 21 seconds and 44 minutes and 19 seconds respectively were, Verna Goh, 30, and Jessy Fung, 52.
As the Skechers Friendship Walk 2024 unfolded in the evening, participants eagerly awaited the announcement of the grand lucky draw. The anticipation was palpable, and the excitement reached its peak as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, when one lucky participant, Choy Seng Fatt, 55, walked away with the grand prize — a year’s supply of Skechers footwear worth $1,500.
As the evening sky darkened, the hearts of the Skechers Friendship Walk 2024 participants grew brighter and fuller. All that remained was a smile of joy and unity on each participant, illuminating the night with the spirit of togetherness.
