SINGAPORE, 15 OCTOBER 2024 – Close to 5,000 runners came together for the second edition of the Great Green Run (GGR), presented by CIMB, on Saturday morning (12 October), united by the goal of raising awareness of sustainability and running for a good cause. The runners began their 5km or 10km runs at the scenic Marina Barrage, following which they received a unique medal sustainably produced in the Kingdom of Bhutan. The event was also graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport.
The GGR is a sustainability-themed mass sporting event that is designed to align with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 and four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, [(4) Good Health and Wellbeing, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, and (13) Climate Action], while aiming to raise awareness for sustainability-focused lifestyles and drive environmentally friendlier actions. The Singapore Environment Council is the event’s Certification Partner this year.
Izyan Hazirah Binte Rus Lee, a participant in the 10km category, said: “It was my first time at the Great Green Run and overall, it was a good experience. The crowd was great and the route was scenic. I checked out the Green Bazaar right after the run and was surprised to see such a huge variety of vendors, but it was a fun addition to the day. I am looking forward to the next edition.”
This year’s event also saw exciting new additions designed to inspire and promote sustainability within the community. An upgraded Green Bazaar featuring a specially curated selection of eco-conscious vendors was staged alongside the GGR over the weekend. Held in partnership with events management company T.Cartel, the vibrant Green Bazaar was expanded and designed to involve various aspects of sustainability and green practices.
Attendees were able to patronise an array of stalls offering delectable food & beverage options, merchandise, pre-loved and vintage retail selections as well as informative, fun-filled workshops – all while doing their part for the environment.
One of the vendors was social enterprise The Green and Purple Movement, which hires people with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly for their sustainability projects, which includes providing solutions for more sustainable food consumption. The Green and Purple Movement works with partner organisations to create edible community gardens and edible portable garden walls that can be installed in offices. All edible installations are maintained by PWDs. Workshops and learning journeys on sustainability and how to work with PWDs are also conducted by the movement.
At its booth at the GGR, the organisation launched its Sustainability Circle Membership. This membership entails a monthly veggie pack and exclusive entry to sustainability events islandwide. They also had a variety of garden-to-table food and beverage options like freshly harvested vegetables, herbs and kombucha on sale.
Geraldine Tan, founder of The Green and Purple Movement, said: “Being part of the Great Green Run was a fun and meaningful experience for all of us at The Green and Purple Movement. We’re always looking for ways to help people live and eat more sustainably so we’re grateful to be part of an event that champions sustainability just like we do and helps us achieve our goals. It was an honour to meet so many like-minded people and we’re glad to see so many people enjoying our local produce. Thank you to the organisers of the Great Green Run for inviting us to be part of their Green Bazaar. I hope more people and companies will continue to adopt green habits by supporting our initiatives and consuming local produce.”
Victor Lee, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Singapore, said: “CIMB is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of Great Green Run for the second year. The Great Green Run is not just a running event. It is an event that aligns with CIMB’s values to amplify awareness on sustainability through our network of partners and the wider community. This year, we welcomed friends, families and clients of CIMB to the Great Green Run, and saw a 50% increase in participation.”
GGR Project Director, James Yeong said: “We are delighted to have so many runners take part in the Great Green Run. We organised this run to bring more awareness around the importance of sustainable living as well as to encourage everyone to make sustainable choices. We are also very grateful to all our partners for their support in making this run possible. Together we can make a bigger and positive impact on our environment.”
