Grolite Group partners with SCCS for GoBald 2024 in Sibu

SIBU (Aug 19): Grolite Group collaborated with Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) for the inaugural hosting of the ‘GoBald 2024’ campaign here.

Yesterday, 27 individuals had their heads shaved in solidarity with children battling cancer, during the group’s fourth blood donation drive at its Sibu headquarters.

“The event itself raised RM45,530, and with Grolite Group’s additional contribution of RM32,000, the total amount raised reached RM77,530,” said SCCS in a press release.

SCCS president Mary Kiu commended Grolite Group for surpassing its initial fundraising target of RM20,000, emphasising that the funds would provide the essential resources and financial aid to support Sarawak’s childhood cancer community.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and efforts of our community in supporting the childhood cancer cause in Sarawak, and this achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated support of Grolite Group,” said Kiu.

“We are on a continuous mission to raise funds for families whose children are battling cancer, ensuring that each child has equal access to life-saving treatments.

“Going bald not only raises awareness for the often-overlooked reality that children can develop cancer, but also helps garner public support towards enhancing the services that we provide at SCCS,” she said.

Adding on, Kiu said they had also partnered with Grolite Group in utilising parts of the proceeds to donate medical equipment worth RM39,900 to Ward 27 of the Paediatric Ward in Sibu Hospital.

“The ward is a main treatment centre for paediatric oncology patients from Sibu and surrounding areas and it accommodates an average of two to four in-patients at any given time, with the daycare centre seeing three to five patients daily,” said the statement.

As of Dec 31 last year, SCCS has served 350 childhood cancer patients from Sibu and its neighbouring regions.

Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu, who was as among the first to go bald in support of children with cancer, hoped that the event could promote and create awareness in children who have yet to seek treatment for cancer, especially those living very far away and have no access.

“Early treatment can change lives. To show my support to them, I’ve decided to participate in the GoBald programme and hope that this event could be a yearly event and reach more people,” he said.

The remainder of the proceeds from the event would be utilised to cover SCCS’s operating expenses, as well as the upcoming awareness campaign at Wisma Sanyan here, set to run this Sept 27 to 29, in conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The association added that the event would be open to public, and would feature an interactive ‘balloon maze’ symbolising the story of a child with cancer.

“Last year, the GoBald campaign raised over RM900,000, with more than 160 participants shaving their heads,” said SCCS, adding that it would strive to raise RM1 million and have 500 heads shaved this year.

Donations from GoBald cover 20 per cent to 30 per cent of SCCS’s annual expenditure, which can amount to nearly RM2 million.

“This (expenditure) includes a budgeted RM920,000 for medical aid, with over RM660,000 already spent this year alone.

“Essential support services provided by SCCS also include financial assistance to families, accommodation, food, transportation, counselling sessions, recreational activities, and care packages to help new patients adapt to life in the ward.

SCCS said since 2001, it had supported 1,650 families in Sarawak in their cancer-fighting journey, thanks to the generosity of public donations.

Businesses or organisations interested in corporate social responsibility projects or hosting satellite events can contact the SCCS team via 011-3927 6553, or [email protected].