KUCHING
18 JUNE 2023
GoBald has been one of the major fundraising channels for Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) since the annual campaign was first introduced in 2009, gathering support from over 10,000 participants across Malaysia in the last 14 years.
Organised by SCCS, this year’s edition of GoBald saw 29 more courageous participants and three family members of a childhood cancer patient voluntarily shave their heads at its Kuching main event today at Vivacity Megamall, to spread hope to children battling with cancer in conjunction with Cancer Survivor Month in June. 13 other participants in Kuching area also recently went bald remotely at a local salon or at home.
“One of the main challenges that can be distressing for some children is losing their hair as a side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. When participants choose to go bald voluntarily, it is an empowering act of support to show children that they are willing to fight this battle and walk the journey with them. The shared understanding and camaraderie can uplift spirits and foster a sense of hope for these little cancer fighters,” said SCCS President Rodney Wong (黄启庆).
Wong also shared that spreading hope and delivering optimism to childhood cancer patients and survivors is one of the main messages of GoBald 2023, anchored on the theme of ‘Dare to Dream’.
“It was a carefully planned decision to ensure we carry out both Miri and Kuching physical events in June as we celebrate Cancer Survivor Month. This is part of our initiatives in sending out a strong message of hope and strength to about 40 children who are currently under active treatment and about 150 children who are still in remission continuing follow-up care across Sarawak,” he added.
To date, GoBald 2023 has raised more than RM753,000 from more than 1,900 donors. So far in June 2023, about 130 people in Malaysia have signed up for GoBald, with at least 108 pledges to shave their heads. This includes 28 students and teachers from Lodge Group of Schools who have committed to go bald at a satellite event on 11 July.
The three family members who went bald today in support of their 14-year-old son and nephew, Daniel were Kueh Joo Leong (father), Karen Kueh (mother) and Michelle Kueh (aunt). Daniel was recently diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL) in May and he is part of the group currently undergoing active treatment at Kuching’s Sarawak General Hospital.
“We are inspired by Daniel’s optimism through the many challenges in his cancer-fighting journey. We hope to show Daniel that everyone here is rooting for him to get better. No matter how tough this journey can be, we want him to know that we are with him every step of the way and he is not fighting this battle alone. So let’s have hope and be strong because this is just another obstacle to overcome in life,” encouraged Karen, Daniel’s mother.
Wong expressed his gratitude to all the fundraisers and donors for their unwavering support and advocacy for GoBald and the cause of childhood cancer. He acknowledged that their contributions play a vital role in ensuring that children in Sarawak with cancer receive comprehensive treatment, care and support.
GoBald, being the flagship awareness and fundraising campaign for SCCS, significantly contributes to SCCS’s annual expenditure of nearly RM2 million. Every year, the funds raised from GoBald account for approximately 20% to 30% of SCCS’s total expenses. Since its inception in 2001, SCCS has supported over 1,600 families fighting childhood cancer in Sarawak, primarily relying on public donations.
The non-profit organisation offers various essential support services to these families. These services include providing medical and financial aid to families in need; offering accommodation, food and transportation at the Kuching halfway home to rural families undergoing active treatment; organising counselling sessions and recreational activities; sponsoring medical equipment not available in government hospitals; as well as providing care packs and tokens of love to help new patients adapt to life in the ward.
Registration for participation in satellite shaves is still open to any businesses, organisations and corporations interested in partnering with GoBald to raise funds for Malaysia’s childhood cancer community as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Interested organisations can sign up at www.gobald.my or contact SCCS via email at em1@sccs.org.my.
