FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Ting (second right) and friends getting their heads shaved.
MIRI: Political Secretary to Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Sebastian Ting and Pujut assemblyman Fung Pau Teck were among 315 people who shaved their heads to raise funds for the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS).
As at 3.30 pm yesterday, after the last shave, RM517,000 was raised at the event that started around noon at Bintang Megamall here.
Miri branch SCCS chairlady Jocelyn Hee was the first to get her long hair partially shaved by Ting to symbolise the launch of the campaign followed by Hee who partially shaved Ting.
Joining Ting and Hee on stage later to be completely shaved by a team of professional hair stylists from Paul & Jennifer were assemblyman Fung, Sunflower Centre chairlady Liza Chai, branch manager of Edaran Tan Cheong Motor Audery Yong and former beauty queen Marlene Lim.
The campaign also attracted a foreign couple and their three children who happened to be on family outing at the mall. Without hesitation they joined the line, registered and got their heads shaved.
A total of 53 women also got their heads shaved in support of the campaign.
“It is cool feeling!” said Ting who raised RM250,000 when approached after the event.
Getting bald for the first time in his life, Ting said there has no regret in shaving off his hair.
“It is for a good cause which is raising funds for the Children’s Cancer Society. I am happy with the good response shown by the people who have come forward to raise funds for the society,” he said.
Ting said he received support from family, relatives and colleagues who enabled him to raise the amount.
It was also a meaningful Sunday for James Wong and his two sons Aaron and Abel as the shaved off their hair too during the SCCS Go Bald campaign.
With the help and support from Grace Methodist Church, the trio raised RM2,510 for the campaign.
“I don’t mind shaving off my hair as it is for a good cause.
“This is the first time in my life in having a bald head. I want my children to know and be aware of cancer and the impact it has on children and their families. This is also teaching them to be more caring and concerned about the less fortunate in society.
I am glad for the opportunity given to raise some money for the cancer kids and to be able to do it with my two sons is a sweet memory that we will treasure for the rest of our lives,” said James.
The Go Bald 4.0 campaign in support of the fight against childhood cancer gives Mirians a chance in helping kids fight cancer. What is certain is that there will be many shiny heads here in the coming weeks, a sign of solidarity in the fight against childhood cancer.
“When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world changes in the blink of an eye. Treatment, hospitals, chemo, radiotherapy, drugs, surgery, the after-effects of drugs and treatment – these are the elements of reality a cancer patient faces,” said fund raising head Raymond Thong. But when that patient is a child, Raymond said the trauma of treatment and side effects are much more far-reaching. Although hair loss is one of the most minor side effects of cancer treatment, it presents the biggest stigma for children.
Since 2009, SCCS has been organising Go Bald, a public event where funds are raised for the society, and members of the public shave their heads as a sign of solidarity and support of young cancer patients.
Go Bald has grown from strength to strength ever since. Last year, for the first time ever, Miri joined in the Go Bald phenomenon and 2011 was the first year where two cities in Sarawak went bald with a total of 142 heads shaved in Miri, 11 of them being female, raising a total of RM142,000.
This year the aim is to collect RM1.5 million from both Kuching and Miri, with a target of 100 female shaved bringing the total target to 1,000 shavees.
According to Raymond, funds raised from both Miri and Kuching events yesterday and May 20 respectively will go directly towards operational costs to run the new SCCS centre in Batu Kawah, Kuching and to provide more comfortable surroundings for its patients and their families.