KUCHING: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) will hold its 9th consecutive Go Bald campaign this year raise funds for children battling with cancer.
A week-long awareness roadshow will also be held in Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu in July in collaboration with medical staff for the public to learn more about childhood cancer.
This year’s Go Bald campaign is sponsored by Kenbest, official media partners; ERA.fm, MY.fm, HITZ.fm, official photographer Mick Long Bridal Studio in Kuching and DK Photography in Miri, official hair salons Ray’s Salon, Maison Monica Hair & Beauty Academy, and Hair Plus in Kuching, and Paul and Jennifer Saloon in Miri, official venue sponsor CityONE Megamall (Kuching), and Permaisuri Imperial City Mall (Miri).
For more information on Go Bald, contact SCCS at 082 686 276 or email to gobald@sccs.org.my. Check out the Go Bald website at http://sccs.org.my/events/go-bald/ and visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GoBald.
“Eight years ago, SCCS started a public shave to raise awareness, funds and support for families and children battling childhood cancer.
“For many cancer patients, especially children, hair loss following chemotherapy is one of the most frightening aspects of treatment. Whilst this is the least of the effects of cancer treatment, it can be traumatic nonetheless.
“The act of going bald by members of the public, shows our young patients that it’s okay for them to lose their hair, as they walk the path towards recovery,” said SCCS president Jocelyn Hee in a press conference held at SCCS building, Taman Desa Wira, Batu Kawa, yesterday.
She added that in addition, participants of Go Bald often create awareness about childhood cancer through their balds heads that arouse the curiosity of others, allowing them to start conversations about their experience, and their intention behind going bald.
Jocelyn noted that most importantly, Go Bald has helped the society raise funds and in doing so, provided the society with resources to provide continuous support and service to the children and their family.
Since SCCS began Go Bald, she said, to date, SCCS has built 2 halfway home in Kuching in 2013 and in Miri on February 2016 which cost more than three million altogether.
“Both centers provide outstation families with free accommodation, transport and food during their stay, which at times could be up to a year.
Since opening, the halfway homes have provided accommodation for more than 100 families during their treatment,” Jocelyn said.
She also pointed that in order to provide better comfort and care for children under treatment, SCCS sponsors medical consumables, medical aid and donates medical equipment not provided by the hospital.
“In addition the society has supported some medical procedures where expenditures are more than what families can bear.
“Just last year, SCCS spent more than RM 74,000, on financial aids and transportation subsidies,” said Jocelyn, adding over then past 7 years, the society has spent more than RM 1 million on these medical expenses and donations.
Meanwhile, Jocelyn also said that in order to raise the awareness of childhood cancer in the local community, SCCS launched the gold Ribbon week in 2015.
“The event is a week-long awareness roadshow in Kuching and in Miri, collaborating with medical staff for members of the public to learn more about childhood cancer.
“To encourage and motivate our youths, we organize youth camps and we are proud to say that many of these youths are now our volunteers,” she said.
She also hoped to expand and improve their support service to provide better support equally throughout Sarawak.
“Amongst one of the plans is to build a centre for Sibu for patients from the rural area receiving treatment in Sibu GH to have a place to stay, and further expand support services in Sibu and Miri,” said Jocelyn.
For underprivileged families, financial distress is another challenge they face during the long and arduous battle against cancer.
In Sarawak a child is diagnosed with cancer every 5 days. With early detection, children have a higher chance of survival.
