OCBC Cycle offers firms more options

Singapore

OCBC Cycle, Singapore's annual mass participation cycling event, has revealed new platforms which will gear companies up to help the less privileged in Singapore. The event will be held at the Singapore Sports Hub on Aug 29-30, 2015.

More than half of the registration fees for The Business Times Cycle of Hope Corporate Bike Ride, a corporate charity ride part of OCBC Cycle's charity partnership programme, will be donated to four beneficiaries: the Singapore Children's Society, SportCares, TRUEfund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.

The donated amount from each registration fee will be shared equally among the four charities. Alternatively, companies can choose to donate to any of the four charities they would like to support, or donate more and above the registration fees. These companies will be eligible for the inaugural OCBC Cycle 2015 Largest Donor Award.

There are three different package fees of S$980, S$1,940 and S$2,880 for packages for 5, 10 and 15 people. Sums of S$565, S$1,130 and S$1,695 will be deducted from the respective package fees for donations to the charities.

In an interesting twist to the event's charity component this year, companies and individuals can also engage in hands-on activities to help the less privileged in society.

"In past events, we usually just carried out fundraising for our beneficiaries. This year, however, we want to go beyond fundraising. Cycling is an important lifeskill, and many of these children do not have the privilege of having someone close to them to teach them how to cycle. We felt that OCBC Cycle 2015 would be a good platform for companies to volunteer and teach participants how to do so," said Koh Ching Ching, head of group corporate communications and executive vice-president, OCBC, on what distinguishes this year's charity component from those of previous OCBC Cycle events.

Companies also stand to benefit from The Corporate Bike Ride, which has no charity component but provides an opportunity to foster better relationships among employees. Companies will be able to design their very own team jerseys for the ride, with a minimum purchase of 15 jerseys.

The Corporate Bike Ride is separated into two categories, the Sportive Ride and the Straits Times Ride, for which the registration fees are S$67 and S$35 per person respectively.

"Companies are always looking for healthy activities that can promote team bonding as well as CSR platforms through which they can engage the community and do good," said Samuel Tsien, Group CEO, OCBC Bank. "With the OCBC Cycle 2015 corporate rides, companies can do 'all of the above'."

Reservations for the two corporate rides opened on Monday. More details about the event can be found on www.ocbccycle.com.