Counting his blessings

A physical fitness coach in Miri gives back to society by promoting good health for the community and doing charity to make life better for the needy

RIDLEY CHEN has been trying to share his love for physical challenges in Miri ever since he came back from Canada less than three years ago to live where he was born.

After his Physical Fitness Feat group had undergone more than a year of training, he was ready to do a nine-obstacle physical challenge carnival for his fitness friends and other interested participants. And he has found a good venue for this at the well-equipped Tenby International School.

On Dec 20, 2015, 61 fitness enthusiasts took to the school’s sports complex to prove their strength and valour as a culmination of their determined training.

Nine stations were set up for the challenge by the Miri Fitness Feat (MFF) Centre and the tests included pulling oneself across the swimming pool, hammer throw, flipping lorry tyre, hop and jump, basketball throws and the like. Each participant was expected to complete all the stations within their best time  and for the record, some were to do it under 20 minutes.

The challenge was to raise funds for the Palliative Care Association of Miri (PCAM) which received RM3,000 — a generous contribution from this particular challenge.

Mark Goh, one of the participants, said: “There’s no better way to help the community than to reach deep into our pockets, at the same time, participating in a lively challenge like this. I enjoy marathon runs everywhere in Malaysia.”

Jenny, a banker, has been with the MFF Centre for over a year. A very determined runner, she said being fit is one of the most important aims in her life, adding that the free Ridley’s programme was the best for her.

Another athlete, who chose to remain anonymous, said he enjoyed the training under Ridley, and liked the whole

idea of a free programme, noting that with the rising living costs in a city environment, freebies like this was hard to come by.

He is very grateful for the training and the fun and he finds the coach an awesome personality.

Canadian experience

Ridley, who went to Canada at 12 years old, said he fell in love with football and ice hockey but pointed out that at that age, it was too late to catch up in ice hockey, especially the skating bit. So instead, he started playing football in high school at 14.

He had to do weight training to beef up and with help of the coaches, picked up useful tips on agility and responsiveness as well.

“After graduating from high school, my coach got me an invitation to try out for a Division Two College in the US but I didn’t go. After that, I just stuck to working out and staying physically active,” he recalled.

Ridley has been able to stay fit and interested in physical fitness all these years. And now that he is back home, his passion for volunteer and community work is setting him apart from his peers in Miri.

His mum, Rose Lim, is his inspiration.

“She has always advised me to be grateful for what I am … for my blessings. Now, whenever possible, I love to give back to help the less fortunate,” he said.

Ridley also had lots of experience from doing volunteer and community work in Canada.

“Some of my past volunteer work included serving at the homeless shelter, visiting and looking after sick kids at Stollery Children’s Hospital and being a big brother in the Big Brother and Sister programme in Edmonton.

“In 2003, I got back to football again in the Alberta Football League with the Edmonton Stallions and played for nine years, winning two League Championships, and participating twice in nationals but here, we came up short.”

To make a strong comeback to physical fitness and good health, he got his personal trainer certificate through CanFitPro and is putting it to good use.

Despite living there for two decades, Ridley is not homesick for Canada where he grew into an adult. In fact, his heart is now set on promoting fitness and health, and doing charity, especially for Mirians.

He said the people he was helping were from all walks of life and racial or religious backgrounds.

When he first arrived in Sarawak and opted to stay on, he contemplated opening a gym but after thinking it through, he decided not pursue that option and got into the hospitality industry instead.

“It all happened very quickly — now I am still operations manager of the Imperial Hotel. I’m lucky to have the best of both worlds — a regular salaried job and a fitness programme of my own design for the community,” he said.

Physical fitness feat

Before returning to Malaysia, he observed a workout trend that was growing in North America and Edmonton and he was intrigued, saying: “They called it the November project and I never had a chance to participate in their workouts until my recent visit this past June.”

According to Ridley, it is the concept of free fitness together with his wish to give back to the community that got him started on his fitness programme. Basically, it is to provide an alternative to stay fit and network for people with similar interests.

His mum Rose, who has many years of experience in the hospitality industry, is happy both her children — son (Ridley) and daughter (Rezebel) — are now back in Miri.

“What Ridley says about me is true. I always tell my kids to be grateful for their blessings. And they must give back to help the needy. Charity starts at home. If you cannot take good care of the people around you, especially the elderly like your grandparents and parents, then there is no point going out to take care of other people.

“So on any of our birthdays, we will also do charity. My daughter worked with handicapped children in her elementary school in Canada. Now both she and Ridley donate and raise funds for charity whenever they can. I support my children’s interests and I always involve them in any charity I do,” she said.

Lim is a long-time volunteer of the Palliative Care Association of Miri. She is also a member of the Local Association of Girl Guides of Miri. Both organisations keep her very busy. Besides, she is a member of the Roman Catholic Church of Miri and has served the parish in different capacities over the years.

She reiterated: “We have to pray for our children all the time. I pray for my whole family. For example, and my son knows this, I have prayed for so many years for him to move back and he did!

“We don’t know if it is the right move but I am leaving this in God’s hands. Ridley has met and married a wonderful girl and now they have a lovely daughter. God knows what is best for him. We, as mothers, need not worry so much about our children for God will take care of them.

“What’s important is we mothers must also take good care of ourselves. Our family need us to take care of them. So we must make sure we can be up and about. Stay fit and healthy at all times.”

Ridley and his fitness team have a long way to go to helping as many people as possible.

Like his late grandfather, Lim Thian Beng, who was passionate about marathon running all his life, and who, as a sportsman, had exercised right into the ripe old age of 80 plus, Ridley will continue to make great strides in the fitness arena of Miri. His enthusiasm is contagious!