KUCHING, Aug 11: The GoBald 2022 satellite shave event at Lodge International School here raised more than RM36,000 in funds with 21 heads shaved today.
Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS), in a media release, said that the funds raised exceeded the school’s initial target of RM20,000.
The overall campaign saw participation and support from more than 250 teachers, staff, parents and students of Lodge International School, with about 200 supporting the event in person at the school hall.
This initiative was part of the school’s Humanities Week themed “Good Mental Health and Wellbeing” held from Aug 10 to 11.
Commenting on the event, SCCS president Rodney Wong said the support from schools such as Lodge International School is critical and valuable in the society’s continuous efforts to promote awareness of childhood cancer amongst parents and students.
“GoBald satellite shaves are essentially a mini GoBald event for the respective community at participating schools, organisations and corporations to pool resources to help raise funds and increase awareness of childhood cancer.
“It is a more targeted and efficient fundraising approach which also gives businesses and organisations an opportunity to give back to society.
“Awareness is key to early detection and this enables accurate diagnosis to determine the best possible treatment available for the child,” he emphasised in the statement.
Lodge Group of Schools director Su Hiong Ai, Lodge International School principal Markus Gatuman, SCCS executive director Jodie Sim as well as the senior management team and staff of Lodge International School and SCCS were also present.
“We appreciate all the efforts our satellite partners put into raising awareness and funds to help kids fight cancer. Through this purposeful and meaningful collaboration, we are able to help more children and families in Sarawak, and at the same time instil empathy for the less fortunate among the youth,” Wong added.
According to SCCS, Kuching Fatt Lung Tang Association and Farley Kuching are also amongst its satellite partners this year and have collectively raised a total of RM51,000.
Yelaoshr Saradise is another educational institution supporting this year’s GoBald campaign. Teachers and parents have committed to go bald at a satellite shave happening on Sept 4 in conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
GoBald was first launched in 2009 as the key fundraising campaign for SCCS to support the society’s annual operating expenses of about RM1.5 million to ensure children diagnosed with cancer have access to the treatment and services they need.
The signature act of head-shaving aims to demonstrate support for children who are losing their hair while undergoing cancer treatment.
Organisations who are interested in holding a satellite shave at their own premises may contact the GoBald team at 011-39276553 or email events@sccs.org.my. — DayakDaily
