KPJ Sabah Colour Run targets 2,500 participants

0

Miranda (fourth from left), Dr Ajaz (fourth from right), representatives from Ging Karas Talent and main sponsors showing the medal, t-shirt and loot bag that the participants will receive after registering for the run.

KOTA KINABALU: KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital’s cancer awareness campaign continues with its annual ‘KPJ Sabah Colour Run 2018’ to be held on October 21 at Taman Teluk Likas in Tanjung Lipat.

Its CEO, Miranda Harumal, said they were targeting about 2,500 participants for the run which is scheduled to be flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.

“Registration to participate will end on October 14 so we encourage all those interested to join in the fun. The run is 5 km and will be flagged off at 6.30am. There will be activities after the run which include health exhibition, promotional and merchant booths, stage activities, Colour Run Photo Booth, lucky draws with attractive prizes, auto show by Sabahan Bimmers Owners Club and many more,” she said at a press conference here yesterday.

Miranda also spoke about the run and said that runners would be splashed with colourful powder at the starting point.

The colourful powder represents different types of cancer – pink for breast cancer, orange for leukemia, light blue for prostate cancer, teal for ovarian cancer and many more.

She added that the slogan for this year’s run is ‘Run to Fight Cancer’ and this is a call for the public to join hands to fight cancer and raise awareness on the importance of early detection through annual medical check-up and screenings.

“KPJ Sabah is the only facility to do this activity so I again invite the public to join hands with us in creating more awareness about cancer,” she said, adding that proceeds from the run would be donated to cancer-related associations to in the state.

Meanwhile, KPJ Sabah’s Medical Director Datuk Dr Ajaz Ahmad Nabijan, who was also at the press conference, disclosed that the highest number of cancer cases in the specialists hospital involved those suffering from breast cancer.

The second highest is nose or nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).

He said the numbers of cancer patients were rising because people were more aware of the disease and were going for early screening.

NPC, he said, was more common in the Chinese and indigenous people of Sabah, adding that their diet and lifestyle could be one of the contributing factors.

“Salted fish is also alleged to be a contributing factor so please reduce the consumption of this preserved food,” said Dr Ajaz who disclosed that the youngest patient diagnosed with NPC was a six-year-old child.

He also was of the opinion that people now have better economic well-being, better information and easy access to medical facility among others which is why the awareness level has increased and more people are going for early screening.

“So if you or anyone you know feel that they have swollen nodes or lumps of their neck, please get it checked out because with early detection, the spread of cancer can be halted.

According to Dr Ajaz, KPJ Sabah has facilities for cancer treatment at its Radiotherapy and Oncology Centre which provides access to high and affordable radiotherapy services.

He also said that two specialists, Datuk Dr Jaswant Singh and Dr Daren Teoh are with KPJ Sabah’s Radiotherapy and Oncology Centre.

For more information about registering for the run please visit www.kpjsabah.com or its social media page @kpjsabah available on Facebook Youtube, Instagram and linkedin.