JOIN THE DARK SIDE FOR GOOD

Most people probably recognise stormtroopers as Star Wars "baddies". Corporal (CPL) (NS) Gordon Ho, however, is part of a fan club that cosplays to help the underprivileged.

During the 2008 Chingay parade, CPL (NS) Ho witnessed an entire platoon of Stormtroopers marching smartly on Orchard Road. It was an unforgettable moment for the Star Wars fanatic, who literally scurried home to find out more about this group of fans.

He eventually joined the fan club, known as the 501st Legion, Singapore Garrison, later that year. The 501st Legion is a non-profit international Star Wars costuming club with over 6,000 active members in 47 countries. The Singapore Garrison, which was formed in 2002, is currently the biggest garrison with over 90 members.

Helping the needy

What makes the 501st Legion stand out from the usual cosplay clubs is the fact that its members are actively involved in raising funds for charity.

The 29-year-old explained: "When a charity organisation enlists our help, members who are available that day would head down to the fund-raising event and suit up.

"This usually gets a lot of attention from the public. People are often interested in taking pictures with us, and afterwards, we ask them to make a small donation to the charity organisation."

CPL (NS) Ho has been involved in about 40 charity events by organisations such as the The Salvation Army and the Make-A-Wish Foundation (Singapore) during his five years with the club.

Building the costume

Mere interest is not enough to become a member of the Singapore Garrison. One of the club's requirements is owning a high-quality costume.

Said CPL (NS) Ho: "Costumes in the commercial market tend to be heavier and bulkier. If I custom-make my own, it not only fits me better, but is also more comfortable and allows me to wear the suit for a longer time."

As the Singapore Garrison's theme is based on antagonists of the Star Wars series, CPL (NS) Ho ended up constructing two sets of costumes from scratch: a stormtrooper and a sandtrooper suit.

For a greater cause

During his National Service (NS) stint, CPL (NS) Ho served as a Combat Engineer.

He cited an important trait that he learnt from his NS that was pertinent to his involvement in the club: "As soldiers, we need to uphold the public image of the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces). Thus, we must put on our best behaviour whenever we are in uniform. Likewise, when we go trooping, we need to organise ourselves to prevent disorderly situations from happening."

Since his induction into the Singapore Garrison, CPL (NS) Ho has recruited five of his friends into the club. "I hope to attract like-minded people who can play a part in charity through their hobby. With more of such members, we'll definitely make a greater contribution to the less privileged in society."