Singapore, 26 February 2013 – Close to 30 local and foreign television personalities will come together next month to help raise $3.5 million for the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) through a line-up of entertaining performances put up for the charity’s largest fundraiser of the year – SPD Charity Show 2013.

The show is SPD’s fourth and it will be graced by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Themed “Where Dreams Begin”, the three-hour television show will be broadcast ‘live’ over MediaCorp Channel 8 on Sunday, 17 March 2013, and repeated a week later on 24 March 2013 at 3.30pm. Taiwanese television personality Huang Zijiao (黄子佼) will be host the show together with Lin Youyi (林有懿) and Pornsak.

All eyes will be on the “Queen of Caldecott Hill”, MediaCorp artiste Zoe Tay (郑惠玉), and Vivian Lai (赖怡伶) as they bring to life the fashion pieces designed by 12-year-old Ada Soh. Ada, who has autism and receives speech therapy from SPD, is interested in drawing and aspires to be a fashion designer.

Another SPD client, Jeffrey Koh, is also looking forward to appearing on the Charity Show. The 19-year-old, who has Muscular Dystrophy, has been practicing for the show under the guidance of his training officers. Jeffrey, who loves to draw, is eager to show the audience his special painting technique with the help of MediaCorp artiste Dennis Chew (周崇庆).

Secondary school student Kelvin Chua will demonstrate his extraordinary yo-yo playing skills in a self-choreographed solo performance. The 15-year-old who is SPD’s Aspiration Award recipient this year was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a form of bone cancer – when he was around eight. The self-taught yo-yo-enthusiast who uses a prosthetic leg did not allow his disability to stop him from mastering challenging yo-yo tricks.

For the first time, the outdoor segment will take place at two locations – AMK Hub and Bugis Junction – to reach out to more people. Led by outdoor host, Pornsak, the performers include Priscelia Chan (曾诗梅), Adam Chen (詹金泉), Paige Chua (蔡琦慧), Jayley Woo (胡佳琪), Ian Fang (方伟杰), Jeffrey Xu (徐鸣杰), Zheng Geping (郑各评), Romeo Tan (陈罗密欧), Shane Pow (包勋评), Ya Hui (雅慧) and Yuan Shuai (袁帅).

SPD hopes the camaraderie and many-helping-hands spirit demonstrated by the artistes will appeal to the viewers’ generosity.

“Besides raising funds for the purpose of sustaining our programmes and services, the SPD Charity Show also provides a platform for us to promote a greater understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities in the community. We hope that the performances put up by the artistes and our beneficiaries will ignite our viewers’ compassion and move them to donate generously towards our cause,” said Ms Chia Yong Yong, President, SPD.

Besides the fashion showcase by Zoe Tay and Vivian Lai in the MediaCorp studio, a musical ensemble consisting of Tay Peng Hui (郑斌辉), Pierre Png (方展发), Ben Yeo (杨志龙), Julie Tan (陈欣淇) and Michelle Tay (郑荔分), will present the audience some familiar tunes in an unconventional musical segment. Desmond Tan (陈泂江), Rebecca Lim (林慧玲) and Tracy Lee (李美玲) may have the audience on the edge of their seats as they watch the trio tackle the slackline challenge. Elvin Ng (黄俊雄) will show his artistic flair through Erbu painting, the Turkish traditional art form.

Ten-year-old renowned Korean child pianist with visual-impairment Yoo Ee Yun (柳艺恩), will be back with another inspiring performance. She joins a line-up of foreign celebrities including veteran Hong Kong actress Louise Lee Sze Ki (李司棋) as well as Taiwanese singers Rachel Liang Wenyin (梁文音) and Cai Xiaohu (蔡小虎) who will be making his first appearance on the Show.

Members of the public can call the donation lines below to support SPD:

1900-112 0303 ($5 donation)
1900-112 1313 ($15 donation)
1900-112 2323 ($30 donation)
1900-112 3333 (100 donation)

An administrative fee of $0.21 applies to all calls. Callers must be 18 years old and above, or seek parental consent before calling. Donation hotlines are open till 25 March 2013.