SINGAPORE - More than $1.5 million has been raised in this year's ComChest Heartstrings Walk 2014 @ Marina Bay, the highest since the inaugural edition of the annual event in 2011.

More than 8,500 walkers participated in 4km walk around Marina Bay to raise funds on Sunday - the largest turnout in all four years. The money raised is donated to Community Chest, which helps fund social service programmes, and the participating charities will be matched by the Government under the movement.

Community Chest beneficiaries include the Care Corner Counselling Centre and the Samaritans of Singapore, who reach out to help those facing problems in their marriage and family life. Gracing Sunday's event was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The ComChest Heartstrings Walk is part of a larger Care & Share Movement a national fundraising and volunteerism movement led by the Community Chest for the social service sector, which has raised more than $152 million to date.