MORE than 200 employees of Citi Singapore walked out of the office on Friday last week - and up 44 flights of stairs.
They ended the work week by racing up Millenia Tower and raising $91,120.40 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF), which helps needy students with school-related expenses.
The Citi Vertical Challenge, an annual sporting event for Citi's consumer banking staff, which previously ran from 2004 to 2008, made a comeback after a two-year break with an expanded and different format.
This year, organisers extended the marathon to all Citi staff, and added a charity segment.
Participants, who included senior management staff, raced in four-member relay teams.
Ms Tan Yee Ling, who led the marathon's organising committee, said: 'We were able to build camaraderie among staff... and give back to the community as well.'
The generous donations pledged by Citi were almost double the initial fund-raising target of $50,000 set early last month.
Citi Singapore has been a staunch supporter of the SPMF since 2002, and has raised more than $500,000 for the charity over the past five years.
Its technology department is also holding a charity golf tournament on Aug 17 at Tanah Merah Country Club to raise $500,000 for ChildAid, an annual charity concert in support of the SPMF and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.
LIANNE CHIA