SIBU: The Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society’s (SCCS) netted RM228,237.30 and 220 people went bald for the cause at the launching at Delta Mall here yesterday.
Speaking at the event, SCCS President, Jocelyn Hee said the Go Bald campaign was the main awareness and fundraising event for SCCS since it was first launched in 2009.
“The act of going bald shows solidarity to children with cancer that they are not alone in this journey and that hair loss is only a temporary setback on the journey to recovery.
“In addition, Go Bald helps the society to raise funds to subsidise its annual operational cost of approximately RM1.8 million,” she said.
Hee said since its inception in 1999, SCCS had supported more than 1,000 children and their families through various services provided.
“Today, your act of shaving your head is more than a symbolic gesture of support. The funds raised from this campaign go a long way for us to continue to build and provide better support for the families and children.
“Each year more than 100 families are supported by SCCS and we are glad to have served more than 1,000 families since our inception,” she said.
She said the contribution received had helped to develop better care and support services over the years such as counseling sessions, running of two halfway homes in Kuching and Miri for outstation patients, provision of financial aid for the underprivileged, provision of medical aid, consumables and donation of medical equipment, that are not provided by local government hospitals.
“The money donated is also used to bring joy to the children and their families via various recreational activities, such as monthly birthday celebration, festivities celebration at the ward, family days and youth camps to empower survivors to thrive in life post cancer.
“SCCS works closely with the medical team in our local government hospitals. In effort to support better care by the medical team, the society also sponsors medical staff for conferences, training and relevant courses annually,” Hee said.
At the event, those who went bald received a commemorative t-shirt which featured an actual childhood cancer patient and her mother walking hand in hand. Participants also collected a wristband and a free photo print to remember the occasion.
There were also SCCS merchandise for sale and the SCCS monthly donation programme sign-up booth where the public can donate monthly to SCCS via an auto debit process from a minimum of RM30.
