MIRI
11 JUNE 2023
Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) kick started its first GoBald main shave event for the year in Miri on Sunday, 11 June 2023, at the Permaisuri Imperial City Mall, and saw a huge success of raising more than RM420,000 in funds with a total of 74 heads shaved as at press time.
Today’s event marked GoBald’s first physical main shaving event since the annual fundraising campaign went virtual in 2020, with the second main shaving event happening in Kuching at Vivacity Megamall on 18 June.
“This year, we saw an opportunity for us to bring back physical events after holding it virtually for three years consecutively. Although we have seen great success in our virtual campaigns, participants are eager to come together and shave in solidarity for this meaningful cause in front of their friends and families. We are also keeping the option open for those who want to shave at a salon or at home,” said SCCS President Rodney Wong (黄启庆).
“It has been 14 years since we launched our very first GoBald campaign in 2009, but it remains strong as one of SCCS’s main funding streams to keep our essential services going. The supportive community that we have built over the years lays the foundation to our success and ensures its sustainability. GoBald has evolved from a mere fundraising campaign to an initiative that embodies our collective efforts in progressing greater access of care for children battling cancer in Sarawak,” he added.
Since launched in March, the overall GoBald 2023 has recorded a steady increase of sign-ups with a quicker surge in fundraising in comparison to last year. To date, about 120 participants across Malaysia have registered for GoBald, raising about RM637,000 so far from more than 1,600 donors.
Wong also shared that the 2023 campaign saw a higher number of effective fundraisers, with 16 participants raising more than RM5,000 each. Out of the 16 fundraisers, seven individuals have successfully raised over RM10,000, including Sarawak’s Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting who has raised more than RM236,000 and SCCS Immediate Past President Jocelyn Hee who has raised more than RM101,000.
The funds raised will support SCCS’s annual operating expenses of about RM2 million to ensure Sarawak children continue to have access to the treatment and services they need to get better. SCCS targets to raise a total of RM1 million from GoBald this year.
“Every year, we support about 150 to 200 childhood cancer families in Sarawak by providing financial support, sponsoring necessary medical consumables and transplants, providing rural families under active treatment with accommodation, food and transportation at our Kuching halfway home amongst others. As a non-profit organisation, we need to be consistent and continuous in building awareness of childhood cancer to draw in the needed donations. This is why GoBald is held annually,” Wong elaborated.
Also present at the event in Miri were various GoBald partners and sponsors, including Venue Sponsor Permaisuri Imperial City Mall; Salon Partners Paul and Jennifer Hair & Beauty Salon and Fion Hair Studio; Event Partners DK Photography and Village Sound. The campaign is also supported by Media Partners Era Sarawak, MY Sarawak and HITZ Sarawak.
SCCS’s final GoBald main shave event will take place in Kuching on 18 June at Vivacity Megamall. Kuching participants who have raised a minimum of RM300 can now book their shaving timeslots at their fundraising profiles. Interested participants can register online at www.gobald.my or walk-in on the actual day. Stay updated with the latest news on GoBald 2023 by following us on our Facebook page – facebook.com/GoBald.
