Leong (third left), Chung (fourth right) and members of the Sabah Kidney Society at the press conference yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: In keeping with the season for giving, Star Cruises will be hosting a series of cruises in aid of the Sabah Kidney Society.
According to Star Cruises’ Vice President of East Malaysia Operations, Edward Johann Leong, the sponsorship from Star Cruises is a joint initiative to help patients suffering from kidney ailments and the society’s day to day operations.
Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific, will allocate a substantial number of cabins on three of its 2 days- 1 night cruises, and all sales proceeds from these cabins will go to the Sabah Kidney Society, Leong told a press conference yesterday.
The three SuperStar Aquarius special charity cruises will sail from Kota Kinabalu for a night of high sea fun on December 21, January 4 and January 18, 2014, he said.
“Our company has always been committed to giving back to the community. We have organized various charitable activities, supporting different causes in respective communities across Asia. SuperStar Aquarius is the first international cruise ship home ported in Kota Kinabalu. Recently we have just sponsored 100 breast cancer survivors from Kinabalu Breast Cancer Support Association (Kinabalu Pink Ribbon), their families and caregivers to join us for a free high seas cruise.
“We are more than happy to help raise funds for the Sabah Kidney Society’s programmes this time,” Leong said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Kidney Foundation Society chairman, Chung Kee Hung, expressed their gratitude to Star Cruises and said that it was heartwarming to know that there are corporations out there who still care.
“Star Cruises has stepped up to the mantle generously by donating all proceeds from the cabins set aside for this purpose and we are very grateful for it,” he said at the press conference.
Chung said that the Sabah Kidney Society is a non-governmental organization and a non-profit association providing quality as well as affordable haemodialysis treatment to patients suffering from end stage renal failure as well as giving advice and care to kidney patients with poor financial background.
Chung said that at present there are 36 patients undergoing haemodialysis treatment at their centre which has 10 machines and manned by eight full time staff.
According to him a haemodialysis treatment costs about RM150 per session but the Sabah Kidney Society’s patients need only pay between RM10 to RM60 per treatment session, depending on their level of income.
Those interested to do their bit for charity by supporting the charity cruise can call the Sabah Kidney Society secretary, Rosalind Lau at 016-8401872 or the society’s office at 088-219901.