[27 May 2004]
Scaling heights with a heart - Singapore Management University students share their Mt Kinabalu dream with Special Olympics athletes

'Dare to Dream 2004' - an inaugural expedition that unites SMU students and special athletes in leadership and team building

Singapore Management University (SMU) today announced the launch of 'Dare to Dream 2004', an outdoor adventure to be held annually. An expedition to Mount Kinabula will mark this year's inaugural event.

A team comprising 20 SMU students, and 15 athletes and 9 coaches from the Special Olympics Singapore will be scaling Mount Kinabalu - South East Asia's highest mountain - over two days and one night.

'Dare to Dream 2004'is a student-led project, facilitated by SMU Student Life, and is also the first project launched under the ExPLOR initiative by the university. ExPLOR is a leadership programme, specially developed at SMU with a vision to nurture young leaders. A form of experiential education, ExPLOR uses different skill-building platforms to develop the human potential for community service, self discovery, developing leadership, relationship building and communication.

"Through ExPLOR, SMU students are able to draw direct relevance from outdoor learning through real-life experience as well as lessons drawn from the classroom. In this respect, 'Dare to Dream 2004' is meaningful in all aspects of experiential learning ranging from the psychological, emotional to physical challenges. SMU students hone their leadership and team building skills learnt in their university curriculum in planning for this expedition with their peers in Special Olympics,"said Mr Stanley Lee, Director of Student Life.

The teams have been training together since February. All members have to undergo a routine of cardiovascular exercises and trekking on Bukit Timah Hill. During the training, each SMU student pairs up with one athlete in physical training and rapport building.

"We are indeed excited about working with SMU students in this partnership. Though this is the first time the SMU students are working with the special athletes, the rapport and friendship that has been cultivated over the past three months has been positive, encouraging and heartwarming. I believe the bonding and rapport will deepen even further as they continue to look out for each other during the actual trekking,"said Assoc Prof Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President, Special Olympics Singapore.

"'Dare to Dream' was conceived from my personal dream, that is, to share the beauty of watching the sunrise on the mountaintop. Through 'Dare to Dream 2004', I hope to share that dream with these special athletes and to provide them with opportunities to realise their potential, develop their physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship," said Mr Ho Ren Hua, president of 'Dare to Dream 2004'.

Apart from the Mount Kinabalu expedition, the Singapore team will also be the sole national representative, amongst representatives from Taiwan, Brunei, Perak, Miri and Sabah, to participate in the Special Olympics Nature Unified Team Competition (SONUT) to be held in Sabah on 18 - 19 June. The team will also leverage this smaller-scale trek to acclimatise themselves for the Mount Kinabalu climb on 20 - 21 June 2004.

The project has received much endorsement from the industry with cash donations from the Singapore International Foundation, Singapore Sports Council, National Youth Council, and Lee Foundation. In addition, the team also received sponsorships of sportswear from ASICS and COLDwear.