This article was first published on May 26, 2015, and updated on June 12.
SINGAPORE swimmer Joseph Schooling has already achieved perfection after making it nine golds in nine events at the SEA Games swimming competition.
But out of the pool, the swimmer will also be chasing another mark - in the name of charity.
The University of Texas student hopes to raise $50,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF), which provides pocket money to children from low-income families to help them through school.
To kick things off, Schooling has already donated $5,000 to the fund.
He hopes he can hit the target sum to coincide with Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence.
Said the 19-year-old: "The public has always supported me, and now it's my turn to give back and to help other people, especially the less fortunate.
"I chose the SPMF because children are the future of Singapore, and I want to do something to help them.
"Hopefully, I can inspire them both with my swims and the funds raised."
The public can make donations at https://www.simplygiving.com/josephschooling.
Besides giving to the SPMF, Schooling will also donate $5,000 to the Eurasian Association (EA).
The SEA Games swimming competition took place from June 6-11 at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
Schooling's nine golds helped Team Singapore win its best ever swimming haul of 23 golds. He also broke seven individual Games records and surpassed the 50m freestyle mark, which had stood for 32 years, set by former national swimmer Ang Peng Siong.
For enquiries, please e-mail emailus@spmf.org.sg or call 6319-2121.
