Dr Yii (second left) shows a poster for the i-Shave 7.0 campaign. From right are Hung, Dr Yii’s special assistant Leslie Ting, and KLCS vice-chairperson and i-Shave 7.0 organising chairperson Sim Piak Heng.
KUCHING: Kuching Life Care Society (KLCS) is still short of RM2 million for its Hospice and Palliative Care Centre project.
Chairman Hung Sung Huo said the building as well as medical equipment, electric beds, and relevant software are estimated to require around RM10 million.
“We have so far raised RM8 million for the project but are still short of RM2 million, which we hope to raise through our fundraising project i-Shave 7.0 this July 21 at Boulevard Shopping Mall,” he told a press conference yesterday.
The society is now awaiting approval from the relevant authorities to begin construction on the centre at Desa Wira, Batu Kawah.
“We hope to start the project by the end of the year or beginning of next year,” he said.
Among those who will be joining the fundraiser is Bandar Kuching member of parliament Dr Kelvin Yii.
“I’ve decided to take the extra step of volunteering myself to shave my head and raise funds with a minimum target of RM200,000.
“It is my hope to encourage the public to have a good heart and donate to KLCS for their noble cause and initiative to establish a quality palliative care centre in Kuching,” he said.
Dr Yii called on the public to join i-Shave 7.0, which will begin at 10am.
“This will be the first time to have my head shaved and I encourage more people to also take part in this charitable event, which KLCS is targeting for 100 people to voluntarily shave their heads.”
Describing palliative care as an important aspect of medicine, Dr Yii said research has shown that early palliative care would give patients better quality of life for the years they have left, while also bringing families together.
He commended the society for aiming to provide better quality services to patients living with advanced diseases, particularly cancer patients.
“This society does not only provide palliative care to patients at the hospital but they’ve also been sending the patients from the hospital back to their respective homes or kampungs just so they can spend quality time with their families before their passing,” he said.
Those wishing to donate to Dr Yii’s i-Shave 7.0 campaign can make an online transfer to KLCS’ Public Bank account 31-222-088-25 with the reference YBKYshave by July 20.