​SINGAPORE-Close to $80,000 was raised for cancer patients and survivors through a charity event held on Sunday (March 26).

The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) held the second edition of the "Row For Hope Boat Races" in collaboration with the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore (Oxbridge Singapore).

A team of oncologists, nurses and healthcare professionals from NCCS formed a dragonboat team of 22 to row against the Pink Spartans, a dragon-boating support group consisting of cancer survivors, patients and their families. The event was held at Marina Bay.

"Every day, we witness our brave patients fighting their cancer. We want them to know that they are not alone," said Dr Khoo Tan, senior consultant radiation oncologist at NCCS, who took part in the dragon boat race.

The funds raised for this event will go towards the Community Cancer Fund, which provides a buffer for cancer sufferers and their families when they run out of money for cancer treatment.

Oxbridge Singapore has donated $10,000 to Row For Hope for the second year running to support NCCS' campaign in the fight against cancer.

Last year's inaugural event collected more than $68,000 to support patients in need.