SINGAPORE - Over the past three years, the rice Mr Abdul Mohmin Mohd Hassin has received from an annual walking event has helped keep the 72-year-old and his family on their feet during tough times.

On Wednesday (Sept 14), Mr Mohmin returned with 37 other past beneficiaries from Bedok Radiance Senior Activity Centre to give back - the distance they walked as part of the FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East event would count towards the amount of rice donated to needy families.

This is the first time beneficiaries are participating in the event, which is now in its eighth year.

"I'm very happy to be able to join this walk,"said Mr Mohmin. "Walking is a healthy and easy activity, and even though I may not be able to walk very far, I want to do whatever I can for the community. Other people have helped me before, and it is now my turn to help others and myself."

Mr Mohmin was one of 850 participants from 17 community and corporate partners to take part in the launch of FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East 2016. The event, which took place on Wednesday morning (Sept 14) at the Sports Hub, included a mass warm-up exercise followed by a 1.4 km walk.

The event, which will run from the Sept 14 to Nov 20, was organised by South East Community Development Council and NTUC FairPrice.

For every 200m walked at various community events, NTUC FairPrice Foundation will donate one bowl of white rice and one bowl of brown rice to needy families in the South East district. It will also donate one bowl of white rice and one bowl of brown rice for each participating product sold between Sept 15 and 28.

The two-month campaign is expected to benefit 7,000 underprivileged families.

Dr Maliki Osman, Mayor of South East District, said, "We are happy to continue this collaboration with FairPrice... We hope more will come forward and stay fit by walking while at the same time collecting rice for low income families in the South East District."