WORLD'S SECOND TOP ULTRATRIATHLETE RAISES MORE THAN $600,000 FOR ALUMNI HOUSE

After five gruelling months racing around the world, alumnus Dr Kua Harn Wei has established himself as the second top ultratriathlete in the world and also raised more than $600,000 for the Shaw Foundation Alumni House’s student and alumni programmes!

Between July and November 2008, the Assistant Professor with the Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, participated in five triathlon races held around the world. Not only has he been placed second by the International Ultratriathlon Association, he has also managed to raise awareness and support for the Shaw Foundation Alumni House's student and alumni programmes, succeeding in raising $647,500 between June and November.

Inspired to help raise awareness for the fund which will be used "to organise quality enrichment and educational courses and to encourage lifelong learning in a community that is contributing substantially to the development of our country", Dr Kua embarked on five triathlon races - the Double Iron World Championship in Quebec City and Triple Ultra Triathlon in Germany in July; Double Ironman World Cup in Hungary in August; Double Iron World Cup in Virginia, USA, in October; and the Deca Iron World Challenge in Mexico in November.

After his second race in Germany, Dr Kua was ranked top and also broke the Asian World Record title for triathlons. However, he did not manage to finish his last race in Mexico due to an injury in his left knee. He suffered a minor tear in the Hoffa's Fat Pad (the soft tissue that lies beneath the kneecap separating it from the thigh bone) during the race and had to make the tough decision of quitting the race. Still, he managed to chalk up enough points from his previous four races to take second spot in the world cup rankings for 2008.

"Quitting is NEVER easy for a DECA-man! It was sad for me since the whole year was planned around this DECA. But my knee is more important. There is always another race, another year… Competing in this world cup series gives me a chance to make use of ultratriathlons to help my beloved alma mater. It allows me to experience the life of a scholar athlete, striving to be the best in my chosen fields. That pursuit is the RIGHT choice," he wrote on his blog.

Visit the International Ultratriathlon Association website for more information on Dr Kua's ranking and on the ultratriathlons.

Dr Kua would like to thank the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), Tote Board and Singapore Pools for supporting him on his trip to the Mexican DECA. The sponsorship is made possible under the Sport Partnership Promotion Program (SPPP), a scheme by the SSC to promote sports participation by groups and individuals.

Support Dr Kua’s fundraising endeavours and make your gift now.

With a minimum contribution of $100, your name will be recognised in a special manner on the Donors' Wall at the second storey of the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Funds raised will go towards student and alumni programmes. All donations enjoy double tax deduction.

Read more about Kua Harn Wei in the AlumNUS Magazine!
"Ironman with a charitable heart" | "World number one triathlete raises funds for Alumni House".

Updates on Harn Wei's races can be found on his blog http://trizen.livejournal.com.

Read about Harn Wei's endurance race in TODAY newspaper: The Reluctant Ironman

For more information on the Donor's Wall Project please click here.

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