An accidental start to a lasting friendship
Part of a series featuring six ordinary heroes who have made a difference to other strangers’ lives. Their heartwarming deeds are celebrated in the ongoing Good Man Good Deeds Good Rice campaign collaboration between Chinese evening daily LIanhe Wanbao and Tong Seng Produce’s rice brand SongHe. In their name, Tong Seng will donate 500kg of SongHe rice and 60 litres of canola oil to their charity of choice.
When Mr Alvin Ho's car got hit by another at a traffic junction, he did not react in a way most would.
The 34-year-old fitness instructor and owner of a tech start-up had been on his way to a morning meeting at Kaki Bukit on Sept 7.
When he went to check on the damage to his car, he realised that the driver who hit him was an older man who appeared pale and sick. The man apologised profusely and Mr Ho noticed that he had a bile bag attached.
He said: "It reminded me of my late mother-in-law who had passed away of pancreatic cancer. She carried a bile bag with her as well."
When Mr Ho found out that the 65-year-old man suffered from stage four cancer and was on his way to a medical appointment, he decided to drive him to his medical appointment.
Mr Ho said: "Uncle has stage four cancer and just underwent surgery and chemotherapy. He was feeling unwell the day before but thought that he could take himself to the doctor. But he suffered a dizzy spell and knocked into my car."
Even though the man told Mr Ho to go for his meeting, Mr Ho insisted on staying through the appointment.
He even bought breakfast for the man and asked that he be treated earlier, leading nurses at the clinic to think that they were father and son.
Although the man offered to pay for the damage done to his car, Mr Ho refused.
He later took the man home and also drove the man's vehicle, which had been left at a carpark, back to his home as well.
The two developed a friendship after the incident, and Mr Ho even had a meal with the man and his family.
Mr Ho's deed was noticed by MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, who posted his story on her Facebook page on Sept 8.
Mr Ho's alma mater, Nanyang Junior College, later shared the post, which has since garnered 1,600 likes and 109 shares.
Mr Ho's charity is the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled.
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