Advertisement

Donated sports shoes give needy kids a spring in their step

Dipna Lim-Prasad and James Walton, co-founders of In My Shoes, with some of the beneficiaries at the launch event on 22 March. Photo: Yahoo Singapore
Dipna Lim-Prasad and James Walton, co-founders of In My Shoes, with some of the beneficiaries at the launch event on 22 March. Photo: Yahoo Singapore

National runner Dipna Lim-Prasad had been troubled when she saw students from the Andrew & Grace Home (AG Home) turn up for her coaching sessions wearing slippers or school shoes.

She realised that for them, a pair of sports shoes was a luxury that their families could not afford.

Together with James Walton, a partner with Deloitte Singapore, they co-founded In My Shoes, a movement that aims to give sports shoes to underprivileged youth to encourage them to take up sports and lead a more active lifestyle.

The movement was launched on Wednesday (22 March) at the Ministry of Education’s Bukit Timah campus where 36 pairs of shoes were given to beneficiaries of SportCares, the philanthropic unit of Sports Singapore, and students from NorthLight school.

Before the launch, the co-founders had already obtained about 100 pairs of shoes. These shoes were given by Lim-Prasad’s fellow national athletes, as well as members of the public who reached out to Lim-Prasad and Walton via social media after they saw posts of the co-founders collecting and washing used shoes.

Working with SportCares, Lim-Prasad and Walton identified young beneficiaries who show potential in sports and came from disadvantaged families.

Having a proper pair of sports shoes could be the first step for them towards taking sports more seriously, said 26-year-old Lim-Prasad, who joined track and field when she was 10. “The value of the shoes is about inspiring kids and empowering them and breaking down the mental barriers that they limit themselves with,” she said.

In My Shoes aims to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes by the end of this year. The co-founders will set up shoe donation boxes at several sports events this year including the MetaSprint Series triathlon on 23 April, Singapore Kindness Run on 14 May, and the ISCA Run on 27 May to collect more shoes.

NorthLight physical education teacher, Shazawani Begum, 27, said the recipients are the more outstanding students in the school’s track and field programme who are also on the school’s financial assistance scheme. One student was even using slip-on shoes and high-cut casual shoes that gave her blisters when she ran.

When the students compared themselves to their peers from other schools who have proper sports footwear, it affects their self-esteem, Begum said. “I really hope they will run properly after this. I think the shoes will give them the confidence, especially when they go for national meets,” Begum added.

NorthLight student Muhd Syahmil Bin Samsudin, 14, who is one of the recipients, was thrilled when he discovered that he was given a pair of Nike shoes.

“I like the shoes because it’s the first time I get Nike shoes,” he said shyly, adding that he did not expect such a generous gift. Syahmil, who recently joined his school’s track and field team, said he plans to run more often with his new shoes.

The shoes that the NorthLight students received came just in time for them to participate at the upcoming national cross country and track and field meet.

In My Shoes hopes to expand its donation drive to include sports equipment. It also aims to offer sports camps and clinics, and eventually scholarships for underprivileged youth.

Want to donate shoes? Reach out to In My Shoes via their Facebook or Instagram page. You can also make a donation at https://www.giving.sg/campaigns/inmyshoes