KUCHING, July 1: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) today announced that registration for its GoBald Virtual 2021 fundraising campaign will open on Sunday, July 4 at 10am at www.gobald.my.
SCCS in a statement said the awareness and fundraising event has been shifted online since last year, due to physical events being cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the first GoBald Virtual campaign held last year saw marked success with 111 people from all over Malaysia who went bald in support of children with cancer, and over RM400,000 raised.
SCCS said the funds helped to cover 60 per cent of its direct costs, which include providing 37 families from outstation with accommodation and transport to hospital, over RM40,000 for 90 families in transport costs to receive life saving treatments, over RM122,000 for support services which includes new patient care packs and bereavement donations, and over RM157,000 for medical expenses including specialised medication, lab tests, and consumables, among others.
The positive response has encouraged SCCS to continue in the same format this year, to raise much-needed funds that will be focused on providing essential support in terms of financial, emotional and physical support for families battling childhood cancer in the pandemic which has increased the level of anxiety and stress for both the children and the caregivers.
SCCS president Rodney Wong said the society will be focusing this year on improving medical support which includes the upgrading of the Paediatric Ward at Sibu Hospital other than continuing the essential services.
“We have always worked very closely with the medical team to identify the pressing needs of the patients and strive to do as much as we can to address this. So, we have also expanded our support services this year to include transportation subsidy for patients from rural areas seeking follow ups at several outstation clinics, monthly essential item aid for palliative bed-ridden patients, and provision of packed breakfast for patients following up at the General Hospital on their weekly routine check-ups.
Wong added, “In our halfway home, we will be renovating another patient’s room for immobile patients on the ground floor to accommodate the increasing number of families staying at the halfway home during the pandemic. We are also upgrading our playroom to create a more conducive space for counselling sessions and recreational activities for the children.”
Mr Wong added, “The fundraising campaign will run from July 4 to September 30. The shaving will still be carried out at no charge at the salons, as long as there is no Movement Control Order (MCO). You can book your salon appointment on the website as well, once you raise a minimum pledge of RM300,” he said.
SCCS explained that the pledge of RM300 is able to provide essential services such as a care pack for new patients adjusting to life at the ward, or a lab test from private institutions, or three blood filters which are used to prevent infection during blood transfusions, or one return trip for patients from rural areas coming for treatment, or 10 nights of lodging and meal for one child and their caregiver.
“Beyond this, by choosing to go bald, you are also pledging to become an advocate and a cheerleader for children and families who are affected by childhood cancer in Sarawak,” Wong emphasised.
“Throughout this difficult time, there are still new cases being diagnosed almost weekly, and children with cancer still need to go for treatment, and continue to have access to our services. We hope that the public can recognise this, and provide support to these children and families in need,” Wong added.
Members of the public who are interested in providing continuous support to ensure these services are available to the children with cancer, can also sign up for the SCCS Heart of Gold monthly donation programme, at bit.ly/donate2sccs, or contact events@sccs.org.my to find out more.
For the latest updates on GoBald fundraising campaign, visit its website at www.gobald.my or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Gobald. — DayakDaily
