On the move for a cause
NTU’s Best Foot Forward (BFF) 2025 brings the community of alumni, staff and students together in a shared mission – to raise funds while celebrating fitness and camaraderie.
By Sadia Roohi
The NIE team in their bright pink t-shirts turned up in full force for the X Campus Run 3km recreational run around the NTU campus.
For Bernard Tung, president of NTU National Institute of Education (NIE) Alumni Association and the co-leader of the NIE team alongside NIE Director Professor Liu Woon Chia, participating in BFF 2025 was an opportunity to celebrate NIE’s 75th anniversary in a meaningful way.
The NIE team was quick to gather 250 participants and has raised S$26,500, the highest on the fundraising leaderboard by mid-March. Bernard is leading individual leaderboard as the top runner with 500km clocked.
“We have reached out to NIE staff, students, and alumni to celebrate the anniversary by fundraising for BFF. It represents a chance to give back and it is our privilege to play a part in ensuring that NTU and NIE continue to innovate, inspire, and nurture future leaders of Singapore,” said Bernard.
The two-month long virtual fundraising event kicked off on a high on 21 February 2025, where more than 400 runners pounded through campus at the flag-off run.
The funds raised from BFF 2025 go to the NTU Bursary Fund, School Advancement Funds, NTU Alumni Advancement Fund and the NBS Bursary Fund. More than 1,700 runners have signed up, breaking last year’s record.
NIE alumnus Bernard Tung has been a regular supporter of BFF.
More than just a run for students
Assoc Prof Victor Yeo (left), NTU Associate Provost for Student Life, and Lua Su Peng, President of NTU Runners Club, flagging off the X Campus Run 7km competitive race.
The flag-off run is also known as the X Campus Run, organised by the NTU Runners’ Club students in partnership with the University Advancement Office.
Lua Su Peng, President of the NTU Runners’ Club, said, “We want to promote running as a sport among the NTU community. Anyone, skilled or not, is welcome to join our weekly recreational runs."
Vice President Lim Hee Szen is pleased to see a strong turnout for the event on a Friday evening. "That’s pretty amazing. It tells us that people want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
NTU staff stepping up
Dylan Mah (4th from right) with fellow colleagues from LSO during their team walk.
Among the many NTU Schools and departments that have signed up is the Legal and Secretarial Office (LSO). Dylan Mah, an Assistant Director of LSO, is the leader of the BFF team.
He said, “We have been blessed with the opportunity to receive high-quality education. We believe that the NTU bursaries have enabled many students to do the same, and we are glad to play a role in making world-leading higher education more accessible through Best Foot Forward.”
Congratulations to X Campus Run 2025 winners
The winners of the X Campus Run 7km race with Assoc Prof Victor Yeo (centre standing).
| Medal | Open Male | Open Female | Student Male | Student Female |
| Gold | Jeremie Houssineau 26 mins 29 secs | Itsuko Tanaka 33 mins 6 secs | Lin Jing Chao 26 mins 24 secs | Ng Yew Cheo 35 mins 49 secs |
| Silver | Gilbert Dominic Saviour 29 mins 18 secs | Lay Shi Ming 40 mins 39 secs | Backlund Nils Gustaf 27 mins 40 secs | Sjoestroem Agnes Elisabeth Henrietta 37 mins 22 secs |
| Bronze | AR Rizqi 30 mins 12 secs | Zhan Xiajing 43 mins 20 secs | Quek Weikiat 28 mins 18 secs | Maia Trevelyan 38 mins 37 secs |
BFF Virtual Challenge continues online until 18 April and welcomes the NTU community and members of the public to be a changemaker while keeping fit. Your donation to join starts from S$10 for NTU students and S$30 for adults.
