WHEN customer service manager Madeleine Png smashed Singapore's skipping record, she had only one thing on her mind - "charity".
The 37-year-old skipped 57,957 times in 12 hours, far surpassing the 35,000 she needed to break the previous record at OneKM mall last month.
The CP Skips for Good Food campaign, run over two months by CP Foods and the South East Community Development Council, saw participants skip a total of 8,361,246 times - enough for the sponsor to donate 4,100 hampers to the district's needy.
Distribution began yesterday and Ms Png told The Straits Times what drove her to set the record - even though she was not thinking about achieving the feat when a friend suggested that she take part.
"I guess the word 'charity' drove me to say yes," said Ms Png, who took only five-minute breaks every hour and small breaks for rehydration.
Ms Png - one of seven participants in the individual event - was also a beacon of encouragement for the 512 participants who set a Singapore record for the most number of people skipping in a continuous 12-hour relay.
She told them: "Think about the pain the needy families have to go through not having enough to eat. All we need is 12 hours, and they will be blessed with good food from the sponsors."
The campaign involved 53 schools and organisations as well as the public in the May 23 finale.
Every skipping-related post on Facebook and Instagram sites with the hashtag #CPSKIPS added to the skip count.
The total value of the hampers donated - containing frozen items including breaded fish and dumplings - was $123,000 and recipients spoke of their gratitude at Tembusu Seniors Activity Centre yesterday. "I'm very thankful. I usually eat simple things like bread with eggs or rice with canned sardines," said Mr The Koon Eng, 79.
Marine Parade GRC MP Fatimah Lateef said: "Such partnerships are always good. It's not just about giving hampers. In this case, we are not just promoting healthy food but also a healthy lifestyle through the skipping exercise."
