National Cancer Council honours volunteers

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Vemanna (third right) with Ahmad Nazri (centre) and the other MAKNA volunteers at the event on Friday.

KOTA KINABALU: The National Cancer Council (MAKNA) volunteers were honoured at a ceremony here last Friday, including the 14 who went with five MAKNA staff to scale Mount Kinabalu to raise funds and awareness for cancer on September 3.

The Klimb for Kanser (K4K) 2014, dubbed the “Colours of Life and held for the third year, was participated by climbers from as far as Bangladesh, Norway, Hong Kong, Kuching and West Malaysia, including cancer survivor amputee, 24-year-old Ahmad Nazri Hamzah.

MAKNA deputy general manager Vemanna Appannah disclosed during the event on Friday that the campaign had raised RM131,000 which will be used to ensure uninterrupted supply of financial assistance, surgical equipment, liquid food, prostheses and prescribed drugs for cancer patients who cannot afford them.

The money also goes to young cancer survivors as educational scholarships.

“MAKNA has been assisting poor cancer patients for the past 20 years, which involves about 4,500 cancer patients a year,” said Vemanna.

“This occasion honours volunteers for their effortless commitments in voluntary works,” he said.

He disclosed that those who registered as volunteers have to undergo mandatory training which includes MAKNA introductory programme, basic nursing care I and II, home and hospital visits and cancer awareness and fund-raising activities.

A periodical assessment is monitored and volunteers are promoted to be leaders, to expand volunteer networks within their locality, enhancing social obligations and strengthen MAKNA’s presence locally.

During the ceremony on Friday, 30 volunteers received certificate of appreciation and eight were identified as potential volunteer Leaders, which identifies them as the next line of leaders who will be responsible for building volunteer teams in East Malaysia.

The eight are Matahari Ismail, Helmie Yusof, Christopher Ruddy Foong, Zainab Batin, Vasanthi Selvaraju, Elvinna Lanjim, Norazirah Ayob, Cherylyn Jurit, and Ak Azlan Pg Othman who were awarded with a blue vest each.