Pau (left) hands over a Go Bald pledge card to Rev Bro Anthony Tay. Looking on from left are Kee, Wong and Chieng.
SIBU: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) is hoping to raise RM1 million from its ‘Go Bald’ campaign this year by shaving 1,200 heads.
A committee member, Pau Kiew Chuang, said SCCS’ yearly outlays are in the region of RM1.5 million.
“We started our Go Bald campaign in 2008 with the objective of raising public awareness on the need to support children who are fighting cancer. We’ve since helped these children and their family members through SCCS,” he said during a forum at Catholic High School here last Wednesday.
Among those present were Catholic High School principal Rev Bro Anthony Tay, academician Chieng Mei, SCCS chairman Joseph Wong Luk Sing and general affairs director Kee Heng Ong.
Pau said SCCS has since built two halfway homes – one in Kuching and the other in Miri – at a total cost of RM3 million.
“The homes have provided accommodation for over 200 families during their children’s treatment for cancer.
“We’ve also spent more than RM1 million on medical expenses and aid for better care and comfort of the children,” he disclosed.
He said part of the proceeds from this year’s activities will be used to fund the upgrading of Paediatric Ward 2A at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching and the building of an isolation ward at the Sibu General Hospital Paediatric Ward.
SCCS is also looking into developing a survivorship programme to provide support for childhood cancer survivors dealing with the late effects of the disease.
“SCCS is also funding a research programme into the incidences of childhood cancer in Sarawak.
“From the research, we hope to gain more understanding about what we can do to expand and improve our services to provide better support to cancer patients and their families in Sarawak,” he pointed out.
On the Go Bald campaign, Pau said going bald can be tremendous moral support for young patients losing hair from chemotherapy.
“It’s a message that getting bald is no big deal,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the old students association of Catholic High School will hold a satellite shave on April 2 at 2.30pm. All are welcome to participate.