KUCHING
14 AUGUST 2026
Every September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month brings communities around the world together to raise awareness of childhood cancer and stand alongside children, adolescents and families affected by childhood cancer.
This year, Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) is bringing that message to the heart of Kuching with its Light It Up Gold Campaign 2026, featuring the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk 2026 on 5 September 2026 at Kuching Waterfront and Darul Hana Bridge.
The 3-kilometre walk invites members of the public to walk in solidarity with children fighting cancer and their families. Registration is open to the public with a RM50 donation per participant.
SCCS aims to bring together 500 participants and raise at least RM25,000 through the campaign. While this amount may seem small compared to the cost of expenses for a single patient, every contribution can help SCCS sustain the everyday support that children and families need throughout their cancer journey.
This includes supporting the SCCS Halfway Home at Desa Wira, where families from outside Kuching can stay while their children undergo treatment at the hospital. The Halfway Home can accommodate up to 14 children and their caregivers at any one time, with average monthly operating expenses of approximately RM12,000.
As of 31 July 2026, the Halfway Home has supported 28 families, providing a total of 1,580 nights of accommodation. Funds raised through this walk will help cover essential day-to-day needs, including electricity, groceries, transportation to and from the hospital, and other basic necessities for families staying at the Halfway Home.
SCCS President Mary Kiu Ai Ling (邱爱玲) said the Light It Up Gold Campaign is an opportunity for the community to not only show solidarity, but also turn that support into meaningful help for families.
“Light It Up Gold is about making childhood cancer visible, understood and talked about. When you join the walk, you are not only standing in solidarity with children fighting cancer — you are also helping to create little moments of hope for them and their families.
“Sometimes, hope can come in the simplest forms. It can be a bag of rice waiting for a family at the Halfway Home, electricity that keeps the lights on, or transportation that helps a child get to the hospital for treatment. These may seem like small things, but to a family going through cancer, they mean one less thing for them to worry about.”
Through Light It Up Gold, SCCS hopes to encourage the community to better understand that childhood cancer affects not only the child, but the entire family. While medical treatment is a crucial part of a child’s cancer journey, it is only one part of the challenges families may face. Families may also struggle with emotional stress, accommodation, food, transportation, financial pressures and other everyday needs while caring for a child with cancer. SCCS is committed to providing holistic care and support throughout their journey, helping children and families not only in Kuching, but across Sarawak.
Therefore, SCCS calls on individuals, families, organisations and members of the public to come together in support of children with cancer at the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk 2026. The walk is not only an opportunity to stand in solidarity with children and families affected by cancer, but also a simple way to get active and take a step towards a healthier lifestyle. Through every step, SCCS hopes to spark a bigger conversation about childhood cancer and remind every child fighting cancer that they are seen, they are supported, and they are never alone.
SCCS would also like to express its sincere appreciation to the partners and sponsors whose support has helped make the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk 2026 possible:
For registration and more information, members of the public may call or WhatsApp the SCCS general line at 011-3927 6553. For the latest updates, please follow SCCS’ official social media channels and visit its website. Organisations interested in supporting SCCS through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives may contact em1@sccs.org.my.
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About Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS)
Mission – To provide care and support for Malaysian children and their families who are suffering from childhood cancer in Sarawak.
The Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society is a non-profit organisation founded in November 2001, dedicated to meeting the needs of families of patients diagnosed with paediatric cancer in Sarawak irrespective of race, religion, age or gender. The SCCS committee is made up of 70% patients’ parents and 30% volunteers. The Society has supported more than 1,800 children since 2001.
Our Services
Support
Through counselling sessions, home visits, support programmes, youth and family camps, and informal friendships, SCCS provides emotional and moral support to members of its community. In 2025, SCCS provided 957 caring sessions and 57 counselling sessions to 350 patients, youths and caregivers.
Accommodation
SCCS operates a 14-bedroom Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) as a temporary living house for outstation patients, with full provision of food and amenities. Daily shuttle services are provided to and from the hospital. 41 families were provided with 3,020 nights stay in 2025 at RM195,921 in expenses.
Financial Assistance
To families demonstrating financial need, SCCS provides monetary assistance through monthly financial subsidies, medical treatment not covered by the government, and transport subsidies. 47 families received financial aid in 2025, amounting to a total of RM85,900.00 while monthly transport subsidies were provided to a total amount of RM68,569 for 57 families. SCCS provided RM2,043,838 in medical sponsorships for procedures, drugs, consumables, lab tests, and prostheses for over 100 patients.
Education
SCCS holds talks and campaigns to educate the public about cancer and the stigmas often attached to it. Educational and craft activities are also organised for the children to keep their minds off the treatment. SCCS introduced patient education in 2025 for children and caregivers to better understand and prepare for their treatment journey, and also supports funding for medical staff training to allow them to provide better care for the patients. 44 patients and caregivers attended 54 sessions of patient education in 2025, while 10 medical staff received training supported by SCCS, who saw over 9,000 attendees at the annual childhood cancer awareness event in 2025.
Recreation
SCCS organises outings, holiday camps, children’s parties and other activities for children and their families to heighten the spirit of the families. For children with cancer, each birthday is a victory. SCCS held birthday celebrations for 98 children and 129 recreational activities in 2025.
Official Website: www.sccs.org.my
Facebook: fb.com/sccsmy
Instagram: @sccsmy
