TSV is proud to be part of the community to participate in the 9th Flag Day on 30th August 2003 organised by TOUCH Community Services (TCS). This event was held to raise funds for the TCS, which targeted an amount of S$400,000 with the help of 10,000 tins. However, TCS aims to target an amount of S$6.4 million this year. The amount will go towards helping the needy and disadvantaged.

Virus Lady Speedster and Baby Virus Sean gave the event a kick off on Saturday morning at ECP on skates! Baby Virus, 1st time as a flag seller makes him a little shy. Lady Speedster egged him on and soon Baby Virus went about saying "Would you like to buy a flag please?" Have you seen people waving to a flag seller so that they can buy a flag from him? Well, this is the cool treatment Baby Virus got from many kind souls. As they were on skates, they managed to cover the whole of East Coat Park's 15km in half the time and collect quite a hefty bit to their tins and blessed many along the way.

Despite the afternoon's threatening skies and drizzles, I carried on my journey to meet up the Viruses to rendezvous at McDonalds as the rain was never a threat to me. At about 12.50 pm, the rain got heavier as I passed by the outskirt of the meeting place. Families, cyclists, skaters and joggers began to scatter apart; some looking for shelters while others were clearly disappointed as their day was ruined by the heavy rain.

As the Viruses saw me approaching them, they started to giggle away as I was almost drenched due to the rain. While waiting for Virus Lady Speeder's arrival, the Viruses sat together having lunch and chatting. By the time we finished our lunch, Virus Lady Speeder had just arrived with several things on hand. Every Virus was issued a collection tin, a stack of TCS stickers, an official authorization card and a TCS bandanna for souvenir.

As our Viruses were waiting for the rain to lighten up, we still tried our best to play a part to help out by donating among ourselves, which later, attracted the people sitting next to us and aroused them to donate as well. God Bless! All of a sudden, 2 young kids approached us enthusiastically to donate their money, followed by a group by kind-hearted young ladies who offered their donation generously. We welcomed them with our warmest smile and thanked them with TCS stickers. "God Bless You!"

Start Work! The unforeseeable rain didn't stop the enthusiastic Viruses. Without considering the wet conditions or hesitating the rusting of bearings, Viruses geared themselves up and zoomed off! "Zhuo Gang!" (In Dialect, means "start work!") Viruses were staggered to different part of East Coast Park.

Virus Jcskater and I were paired up and we made our way to the nearest underpass. Due to the downpour, there were not many pedestrians at that time. So I began to practice my "slow-mo" back and forth the underpass while Virus Jcskater demonstrated his crossover skating technique. As time passed by, signs of cyclists, couples and families began to increase. Virus Jcskater and I were stationed at the two ends to solicit the incoming and outgoing traffic for donations.

After the rain stopped, we moved away from the underpass for more actions.

Viruses in their happy blue were zooming up and down East Coast Park. It's a day of giving and blessing. Someone said "Wah... you guys so innovative. This is a smart way to move about." As for us, it's comforting to see so many generous people in Singapore despite this recent economy situation.

Here's what the Viruses have to say about the event.

Virus Jcskater My bearings seized that very night... I had to clean bearings that night...but I'm glad to have the chance to bless everyone..

Virus BeAr Yippy so happy .. I got a chance to do flaggy day again. Haha! Doing charity work makes me feel so happy. I am able too help the needy ones just by selling flag!

Virus KP It's the first time I went soliciting for donation on skate! Brawahahahaha! KP: "Please donate to the Touch Community! Any amount doesn't matter!" Pedestrians: Shocked! "Warh...Ambush people behind pillar one..." Taking out money and making their donation. KP: "Thank you! God Bless You!"

End of the event.

"Funny...how come my GONG (collection tin) so light one?? Was it because I went to help 2 girls that bicycle's chain went off track? Please lor! They are just teens! Don't be mistaken! God knows for sure!

The next day, 2 wheels can't spin at all!!!! Oops..I forgot to clean my bearings.

A closing note form Virus lady Speedster.

"Thank you people (skaters, cyclists, joggers, families....) for your generous support and $$$ that you have so kindly donated to the event on 30 August 2003. The funds go to Touch Community who actively helps many Children Projects, the Needy and the hearing impaired." "Special thanks to all the Viruses who braved through the rain, the sun, and even rusty bearings. Thank you for your compassion. Fund raising could be such an eye-opener. God bless! Once again, thank you Viruses for all your efforts to make this event a success!"