Go Bald more than just a campaign — President

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(Seated, from left) Miri Sunflower Centre chairwoman Lisa Chai, Ting, Hee, Sim and Dr Ling are the first group of pledgers to have their head shaved.

MIRI: The Go Bald programme by Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) is more than just a campaign to raise awareness of the disease.

Launched in 2009 it also serves to honour and encourage the children and their families in their battle against cancer.

In delivering her opening speech at the second leg of Go Bald 2018 in Permaisuri Imperial City Mall here yesterday, SCCS president Jocelyn Hee said it had not been ‘an easy journey’ for the organisation over the past 10 years ‘emotionally, physically, mentally and financially’.

“At times, we see children lose their battle against cancer and this always causes us to break down in tears, but knowing that this fight will never be over, we would quickly pick ourselves up and continue on.

“Go Bald started about 10 years ago with the objective of raising awareness of and pledging emotional support to the families battling childhood cancer in Sarawak. It has become an important event that has helped us by raising funds to support our activities and services,” she said.

Hee (right) with Ashton’s parents, who deliver a tribute to their late son.

Hee also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Ashton Ambrose – a two-year-old boy suffering from brain cancer, who passed away on May 2.

“Ashton was a strong warrior, who made it back all the way to Miri from Kuching in an ambulance privately chartered by SCCS. It was his family’s wish to have him surrounded by his loved ones as he made his last journey.

“We (SCCS) assured Ashton’s parents and also those who face similar situation – you are not alone. We will continue to support these families through our counselling team and together, we can make it through the painful times and rebuild our lives,” she said.

The Go Bald event here yesterday gathered 140 pledgers – 128 men and 12 women including Hee, who willingly shaved their heads for a noble cause.

The campaign also raised RM239,051.60 with RM21,000 was donated by a group from Malaysia and Singapore who inter-trade limited-edition angpow packets headed by Bong Kim Foon.

This group includes Former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan’s mother, Chan Leong Lai, had donated over RM10, 000 to SCCS.

Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, Dr Philip Ling of Miri Hospital’s paediatric department, Paul Sim of ‘Paul & Jennifer’ who has been sponsoring Go Bald in Miri over the past 10 years, as well as five journalists representing Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) – its president Andy Jong, vice-president Chai Chon Chin, secretary Th’ng Joo Hua and members, Wong Vui Chin and Wong Ai Un – had their heads shaved yesterday.

Of the five, Ai Un – a journalist with See Hua Daily News – was the only woman.