With the two-fold intention to celebrate motherhood and encourage women – who often put the needs of their children, families, and society above their own – to prioritise their health, the Singapore Gujarati Society (SGS) staged its inaugural Mother’s Day Walk on May 9.
A group of 65 participants from ages eight to 80 took part in the seven-and-a-half-kilometre walk, which kicked off at the Parkland Green lifestyle hub in East Coast Park and concluded at the Marina Barrage’s rooftop lawn within a span of two hours.
The event was organised by the SGS Ladies’ Wing in collaboration with Trekkers@Heart, a locally accredited travel agency that specialises in trekking trips. The curated walking trail included the scenic Marina East walkway along the Singapore River that provided the group with breathtaking sights of the skyline dotted with the country’s most iconic landmarks.
“Every step mattered,” said Ms Yogita Parikh, 52, chairperson of the SGS Ladies’ Wing. She was joined by her 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.
The event was open to people of all ages, genders, and non-members so as to provide more opportunities for the women to mingle with one another and share advice on how to prioritise one’s health, motherhood, and more.
“This walk was never meant to be a race or solo challenge. It was designed to be inclusive, to welcome every fitness level, and to make everyone feel like they truly belong,” Ms Yogita added.
Five checkpoints along the trail were earmarked by the organising team for participants to rest, take a washroom break or snap photos. Each participant was also given a banana, a protein bar, and two sachets of isotonic powder to consume during the walk.
“The enthusiasm of the participants was infectious. They chatted, made new friends and sang songs to keep spirits high during the walk,” Ms Yogita observed.
Along the trail, the group were also instructed to pick up fallen leaves, twigs and flowers from the ground for a nature-inspired Mother’s Day collage activity at the end of the walk.
Divided into smaller groups, the participants brainstormed and repurposed the collected scraps of ephemeral nature into beautiful artworks that depicted a mother’s love, compassion, and quiet strength in their own creative ways.
The event ended on a high note at Marina Barrage as prizes were handed out for the “Best Group Photo” and “Best Mother’s Day Collage” by the organisers.
Ms Radha Karnik, 47, a banking professional and one of the participants, said, “It was a truly refreshing way to honour Mother’s Day.”
“I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with friends in such a serene setting. Between the constant chit-chat and the bursts of laughter along the trail, it was the perfect balance of fitness and social connection,” she added.
Another participant, Ms Shubha Hebbale Nagaraja, 50, a homemaker, greatly appreciated the organisers’ efforts in arranging “this thoughtful walk” in addition to the “friendly and motivated group leaders” who kept the team morale up.
“Children walked alongside grandparents while dads walked in support of the moms. Participants spoke about their own mothers with reverence and deep admiration, highlighting their many sacrifices and how they juggle multiple responsibilities every day,” noted Ms Khyati Chandrakant Patel, 44, a member of the SGS organising team.
“Due to the overwhelming response we received this year, we intend to make this an annual event,” she added.
With a focus on health and exercise, the inaugural SGS Mother’s Day Walk successfully achieved its primary objective of encouraging families to walk together to support a mother’s physical and mental well-being.
