Singapore’s Wonderful Wednesday Walkers (WWW) marked National Day 2025 with an extraordinary 60km overnight walk – a feat of endurance, camaraderie, and community spirit.
On Aug 8, 40 participants from across the island converged at Parkland Green, East Coast Park, at 6pm for the start of the group’s second annual National Day mega-walk.
The tradition began in 2024, when seven members of WWW walked 59km from Changi Beach Park to McDonald’s at West Coast Park to celebrate Singapore’s 59th birthday.
This year, with Singapore turning 60, the challenge was bigger – and more inclusive. Invitations went out to all 450 members of WWW, as well as the Trekkers@Heart community, allowing participants to attempt either the full 60km or a shorter 25km route.
The 2025 route took walkers from Parkland Green to Marina Bay Sands, back to Marine Cove for dinner, then on to Changi Beach Park and finally back to Marine Cove.
“Walking through the night is an experience like no other,” said co-founder Pawan Bhargava, who, along with Mr Shijo George, started WWW in May 2024. “It took us 15 hours, and every step showed the power of physical strength, mental resilience, and the joy of great company.”
WWW was inspired by a March 2024 45km cross-island trek that Mr Pawan, a portfolio manager at Nomura, and Mr Shijo, an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) alumnus, completed together.
Motivated by the 100km feats of fitness enthusiast Girish Zond, they began a weekly routine of Wednesday morning walks exploring different corners of Singapore – from MacRitchie Reservoir and Bukit Timah to Sentosa, Labrador Park, and the Rail Corridor. Now, 20 to 35 members join each week, supported by volunteers like yoga teacher Reshma Kamat and freelance artist Sarika Bhargava.
The overnight trek was filled with moments of support and celebration:
• At 25km Mr Shijo was struggling, until participant Samir Dixit, a business owner, walked alongside him, sharing stories to keep him going.
• In the early morning hours, Ms Neha Agarwal of Citibank led a lively antakshari (a singing game where players or teams sing songs that begin with the last letter of the previous song) session, followed by devotional songs at dawn, keeping spirits high.
• Fresh from summiting Mt Kilimanjaro in July, members Chetan Kelkar, Bhavna Maheshwari Shweta Dhasmana, Sayli Suryarao and Gaurav completed the trek well ahead of schedule.
• First-time WWW walker Jally Dharanidhar, an IIT alumnus and IT professional, inspired many with his previous 77km Independence Day walk in India.
• The group also had an unexpected encounter with Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who stopped to chat and take photos at the 55km mark.
For the participants, the event was about more than covering 60km. It embodied the WWW ethos of healthy living, friendship, and exploration.
As Mr Pawan put it: “Singapore is the perfect place for walking – safe, accessible and full of beautiful routes. We are blessed to live here.”
From its humble beginnings with 10 members, WWW has grown into a 450-strong community, fostering fitness and camaraderie every Wednesday morning.
The SG60 walk was a fitting tribute to both the group’s journey and Singapore’s milestone anniversary – living the spirit of Majulah Singapura with every step.
