More details on the online appeal here:
http://forum.channelnewsasia.com/viewtopic.php?t=100844&start=180
Oct 25, 2007
Net appeal for family of army instructor raises over $1,700
By David Boey
THE online appeal for the family of a fitness specialist who died
in a road accident last Saturday crossed $1,700 on Thursday morning
as netizens and Straits Times readers chipped in.
The money will be sent to the family of the late Second Sergeant
Lim Chee Wee, 23. He did not have personal insurance
coverage.
Second Sgt Lim leaves behind his father, a bus driver, mother, a
factory worker and 22-year-old brother who is a university
undergraduate. The Lim's family home is a five-room flat in Jurong
West.
Mr Donald Quek, 22, an insurance agent and financial consultant,
got the Net appeal going after he found out about 2nd Sgt Lim's
death at a Remedial Training (RT) session on Sunday.
Fitness specialists, commonly referred to as Physical Training
Instructors (PTI), conduct RT sessions for NSmen who did not pass
the Singapore Armed Forces Individual Physical Proficiency Test or
IPPT.
"I didn't expect contributions to exceed $1,000,'' said Mr Quek."I
remember on Sunday evening, I told one of the fellow forum members
that my target was $1,000, he asked if that's possible.''
On top of the $1,700 raised, the Lims have also received help from
the steady stream of Operationally Ready National Servicemen who
turned up at 2nd Sgt Lim's five-day wake at Jurong West, even
though many of them did not know him personally. Second Sgt Lim's
funeral was held on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lims said they are touched by the outpouring of help and
thanked the dozens of NSmen and strangers who have helped them tide
over their difficult period.
Second Sgt Lim is a familiar face to some NSmen because he led RT
sessions for hundreds of them at Maju Camp, off Clementi Road.
Soldiers trained by the 23-year-old described him as a popular
instructor who was professional, yet friendly and
approachable.
"I have taken RT under him before and he is a very nice PTI,
friendly guy to chat with. I think around August, he was PTI of the
month (similar to employee of the month). Gosh, I didn't think
something like that would happen,'' said a posting on
www.sgforums.com.
The Straits Times understands that 2nd Sgt Lim was named Maju
Fitness & Conditioning Centre "Best Staff" in June and July
this year, and earned the Army Fitness Centre's "Best Staff" award
in August.
Mr Quek, an NSman who ended up doing RT because he did not train
for his IPPT, said the PTI always had kind and encouraging words
for slow runners. Second Sgt Lim also taught NSmen
strength-building techniques so they could clock better run times
during their army physical tests.
First Warrant Officer Lem Yew Teck, Officer Commanding of Maju
Fitness & Conditioning Centre, said: 'I hear that NSmen
especially liked him alot because he was willing to go the extra
mile and see them through their training programme.'
NSmen and netizens who responded to the online appeal remember 2nd
Sgt Lim's quiet professionalism as he coaxed out-of-shape NSmen
back on the road to physical fitness. Some NSmen were fit and aced
their 2.4km run, but were tripped up on test items like chin ups or
the standing broad jump.
Singled out for praise by netizens was 2nd Sgt Lim's patience in
arranging alternative physical training sessions for NSmen who
missed their compulsory 4-hr sessions, even though this meant more
work for himself.
Uncomplainingly, he ploughed through mounds of extra paperwork,
slogging at his computer to complete documentation that had to be
individually approved.
His extra effort to reschedule NSmen's training saved many of them
from being charged by the army for missing their RT sessions.
His superiors were so impressed with the young PTI's knack for
motivating soldiers and his people-management skills that they
hand-picked him to be a fitness specialist for top officers such as
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek and Chief of
Army Major-General Neo Kian Hong.
Last Saturday morning, 2nd Sgt Lim was on his way from Jurong West
to Kallang for a physical training class. He never made it. At
about 7.45am, his Vespa scooter collided with another motorbike
along the Pan-Island Expressway near Jurong West.
The other rider fell towards the road verge but 2nd Sgt Lim tumbled
onto the road and was run over by a lorry driven by a Chinese man
in his 30s. The motorbike rider and the lorry driver were unhurt in
the incident.
An ambulance rushed the unconscious Second Sgt Lim to National
University Hospital, and was pronounced dead at about 8.50am.
Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for
witnesses.
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