Society aims to raise RM1m at second ‘Go Bald’ event

0

KUCHING: The Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) aims to raise RM1 million during their second annual ‘Go Bald’ event, which will be held at South Court, tHe Spring, on May 16.

GOING, GOING, GONE: SCCS deputy chairman of fundraising Wong Kok Ping (seated left) and SCCS president Gary Ho (seated right) are shaven bald at the press conference at tHe Spring yesterday. Looking on are organising chairman Silas Michael Martin (standing far left), founder of ‘Go Bald’ Rodney Wong (standing centre) and Ronald Ling (standing second right) from tHe Spring Centre Management Office.

GOING, GOING, GONE: SCCS deputy chairman of fundraising Wong Kok Ping (seated left) and SCCS president Gary Ho (seated right) are shaven bald at the press conference at tHe Spring yesterday. Looking on are organising chairman Silas Michael Martin (standing far left), founder of ‘Go Bald’ Rodney Wong (standing centre) and Ronald Ling (standing second right) from tHe Spring Centre Management Office.

The money will go into the construction of their new RM2.5 mil SCCS centre at Desa Wira, Batu Kawa.

“Every day, five cases of children’s cancer are diagnosed in Sarawak,” said SCCS president Gary Ho.

“The centre is for outstation patients and their family.”

Ho said that the current centre at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg only has three rooms, which are too cramped considering some of the children seeking treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) are there for months.

The new 1.26 hectares given to SCCS by the Sarawak Government will allow them to help more families, he added.

“We currently have a Penan family who have been with us for the last 16 months while their child is being treated,” he said.

SCCS also spent half a million ringgit last year, providing medical consumables that are not included with hospital treatment.

The ‘Give Hope, Go Bald’ campaign last year managed to raise more than RM200,000 in pledges and donations. They also shaved 113 heads.

The organisers hope to up the number of participants in this year’s shave off, ‘Go Balder Than Ever’.

“We hope to get 300 bald heads,” said organising chairman Silas Michael Martin.

“No food stalls or raffle tickets, just bald heads.”

There will be a Kids Cancer Exhibition running from May 10 to 15, ending with the main event on May 16. Members of the public are encouraged to show their support by helping raise funds, joining the shave, or both.

For more information on ‘Go Bald’, call 013-8115966 or email admin@gobald.

my. You can also visit their website at www.gobald.my.

For information on SCCS, call 012-8073131 or email [email protected].