STEP along to the charity beat this Sunday - walk, dance or climb to raise bags of basic essentials such as rice, biscuits and toothbrushes for needy families.

'Step-Up for Charity @ South West' is a month-long community project under which every 2,500 steps that the community completes will raise a bag of essentials for needy families in the South West district, said organiser South West Community Development Council (CDC).

South West CDC and co-organiser Dairy Farm Singapore are calling for participants to contribute their steps at this Sunday's launch, where they are targeting to achieve at least half a million steps on stepping machines.

Some 500 youths from educational institutions and worshippers from faith groups will also be supporting them at the launch.

The event at Vivocity Sentosa, Concourse Level 3, will be held from 9.30am to 2pm. Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, will be the Guest of Honour.

'In these trying times, while many look to the government for help, looking after the needy cannot be the responsibility of the state alone,' said South West CDC. 'For help to be sustainable and effective, we need the concerted efforts of the community. Step-Up for Charity @ South West is one such effort.'

Zaki, 18, a student leader from Singapore Polytechnic who is pitching in, said: 'We will be glad to extend helping hands, or in this case, our feet to walk the talk of helping needy families in the South West district.'

Together with the launch, a series of Step-Up for Charity @ South West road shows will be held at Vivocity's Giant Hypermarket on weekends from June 20 to 28. Participants will get to contribute their steps in various step-up methods to pledge their support for the programme.

Step-Up for Charity @ South West's grand finale will take place on July 18 at West Coast Park.