SINGAPORE - Residents in the Bukit Batok area have banded together to raise more than $100,000 for needy senior citizens.

In a charity push by Hong Kah North Grassroots Organisations, 25,000 friendship bands have been made by more than 2,000 local residents and grassroots leaders. They were sold for $2 each as part of the constituency's SG50 celebrations launch on Sunday.

The friendship bands, made of multi-coloured rubber bands, symbolise the friendship among residents from different backgrounds, races and religions. Each is attached to a Hong Kah North SG50 metal clip.

The proceeds from these, along with donations, will go to the Hong Kah North Pioneer Generation Fund.

At the launch, a SG50 logo was formed using the friendship bands, breaking the Singapore record for the biggest such logo.

The launch kickstarted a series of SG50 activities in Hong Kah North such as a good neighbours award, a community mural painting for 24 blocks of flats in the estate and a National Day mass walk.