Over 3,400 rush to fifth Colour Run

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Colours of joy fill the compound of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak at the start of the run.

Colours of joy fill the compound of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak at the start of the run.

KUCHING: The compound of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak was a riot of colours with the over 3,400 people taking part in the Colour Rush Run organised by Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) yesterday.

The 5km charity run, into its fifth year this year, was held in commemoration of International Childhood Cancer Day which falls on Feb 15.

Chief Minister’s wife Datin Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, who declared open  the event, also donated RM5,000 to SCCS in support of childhood cancer patients and their families.

Datuk Bandar of Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, SCCS advisor Datin Patinggi Puan Sri Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s board of management chairman Tan Sri Hamid Bugo, OurYouth.my founder Datuk Patrick Liew and Lea Group of Companies managing director Raymond Sim were among those present.

The Colour Rush’s signature coloured powder returned this year, in representing support for the children and bringing colours and joy to their lives.

Several cancer fighters and their families also participated in the event in support of the cause and other families battling childhood cancer.

SCCS said every year more than 250,000 children and adolescents below 20, were diagnosed with cancer while 90,000 did not survive.

Many more remained undiagnosed and unreported as 80 per cent of these children are from low and middle income countries where health systems are weak, health services are often inaccessible and unaffordable and essential medicines are either not available or too expensive.

In Sarawak, SCCS said approximately 70 children were diagnosed with cancer each year.

SCCS was formed in 1999 by a group of parents with children suffering from cancer.

Services provided by SCCS are aimed at supporting the children and their families through a very traumatic and life threatening time in their lives.

To date, SCCS has supported more than 900 families  through the provision of emotional, mental and financial support, accommodation at the children’s cancer centre for patients receiving treatment at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) as well as in Miri Hospital, public education, and craft based learning activities and recreational activities for children and their families.

The society requires an annual operating budget of approximately RM2 million to provide its service annually.

Colour Rush 5.0 is organised by SCCS and supported by Lea Sports Centre and DBKU.

It will also be held in Miri today (Feb 19) at Boulevard Shopping Mall.

Juma’ani (fifth left) presents the mock cheque to Lorna (fourth left) while Liew (second left) and Hamid (second right) look on.

Juma’ani (fifth left) presents the mock cheque to Lorna (fourth left) while Liew (second left) and Hamid (second right) look on.