Walks, races and nine gelato flavours created by celebrity chefs were among the fund-raising efforts by Marina Bay Sands (MBS) that raised $3.5 million for charity in three days.

The money raised from the annual Sands for Singapore Charity Festival, held from July 29 to 31, will support 80 local charities and around 300,000 Singaporeans, said MBS in a statement last Friday.

The charities include Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, The Singapore Association for the Deaf and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

There were 22 community events organised over the three days, ranging from a race to movie screenings to live music performances, all taking place at attractions around MBS.

Earnings from 9,778 scoops of gelato sold at MBS went to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. It received more than $45,000 from gelato sales and donations from corporations as well as individuals.

The fund supports children from low-income families by providing them with pocket money that they can use for school-related expenses such as buying food during recess.

The Heartstrings Walk, organised by the integrated resort and the Community Chest, was the finale of the festival. The event alone raised more than $1.9 million this year.

The walk, with a theme of creating an inclusive society for the disabled, drew more than 7,000 partners, volunteers, beneficiaries and members of the public.

The charity festival is the fourth one that MBS has organised.

Mr George Tanasijevich, chief executive and president of MBS, said: "Through the festival alone, we have raised more than $16 million for local charities over the past four years.

"The success of this festival motivates us to continue to explore new ways that Marina Bay Sands can further support the underprivileged in Singapore." Last year, the charity festival raised $5.4 million over 10 days to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday.

Muneerah ab Razak