7 Years of Caring Hearts Support Group (CHSG)
PULSE Issue 45 | July 2025
About CHSG
A volunteer initiative by patients for patients at NUHCS, this support group was launched with the vision to build an inspiring and caring heart patient support group that stays connected and supports fellow cardiac patients and the community through each other’s journey to remain heart healthy.
A Strong Start to 2025
We began the year on an inspiring note. In January, as CHSG’s Programme Volunteer Lead, I completed my second module in Health Coaching at the National University of Singapore (NUS)’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, after six months of in-depth practical skills training. Now a Certified Health Coach, I bring deeper knowledge to empower CHSG members on their heart health journey with greater confidence and support.
- Magdalene Chia, Programme Volunteer Lead, CHSG
Celebrating 7 Years of Care and Friendship
2025’s celebration was more than just a joyful gathering. It was a moment of reflection on CHSG’s evolving role within the healthcare system, and the deep impact it continues to make on the lives of its members. One of the most heartfelt moments of the celebration was when the CHSG members stood together and proudly took a collective pledge - reaffirming their dedication to continuous growth, patient education, and close collaboration with the healthcare system to provide a holistic and compassionate support in the patient care journey.
A Community for All Ages
The 7th anniversary celebration also shone a light on CHSG’s strength – its community. From newborns to the group’s most senior member, 101-year-old Mdm Sharada Chellam, CHSG is truly a multigenerational support system. Mdm Chellam, with her lifetime of wisdom, shares a simple yet profound philosophy for life, which members have embraced as a source of daily encouragement:
Life Is As Simple As "ABCDE"
A - Accept, Adapt, and Adjust - no matter the situation
B - Believe in yourself and find Balance - in emotions, food and activity
C - Never Complain, Compete, Compare - seek comfort in contentment
D - Determination, Dedication, Discipline - this will keep you on your path
E - Exercise - the key to lifelong good health
- 101-year-old Mdm Sharada Chellam, CHSG member
These guiding principles have become a daily motivation for many CHSG members, inspiring them to live healthier, happier lives by accepting, adapting and adjusting to all changes that life may bring.
With seven years of expertise in heart health under our belt, CHSG continues to champion the importance of exercise in cardiovascular wellness. At the 7th anniversary celebration, A/Prof James Yip, Executive Director, NUHCS, together with Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Advisor, NUHCS, Dr Yeo Tee Joo, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Cardiology, NUHCS, Mr Qamaruzaman, Principal Physiotherapist, NUHCS, and I introduced a new initiative: specially designed NUHCS-CHSG TheraBands to encourage safe and effective home-based exercise.
During the festivities, Dr Yeo and Mr Qamaruzaman, also demonstrated a series of simple exercises utilising the TheraBands, highlighting the importance of regular movement in maintaining heart health.
The celebration concluded with a joyful cake-cutting ceremony, followed by a heartfelt toast to many more years of friendship, resillience, and good health.
CHSG's strength lies in its unity - a vibrant community of diverse ethnicities and cultures, bound by a shared commitment to lead heart-healthy lives. As it celebrates seven years of meaningful support and friendship, the group continues to upholad its mission of bringing positive change to the lives of heart patients and the community with its motto - "Caring Begins With Me".
As CHSG looks forward to brighter days ahead in 2025, it remains dedicated to strengthening its efforts and actions guided by its core principle - "Let All That We Do, Be Done In Love".
