Club’s artistic effort for rare cause

(From left) Jayasiri, Lim and Maria with Branden (in wheelchair) as he shows them his artwork at the ‘Art for All’ auction and exhibition. — SAM THAM/The Star

IT WAS an evening of charity at the “Art for All” auction and exhibition organised by Rotary Club of Utara Subang Jaya (RCUSJ) with HELP International School.

The fundraiser in aid of children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), saw over 50 works by 20 artists put up for auction by Christie’s Malaysia.

Among the contributions was a signature acrylic piece titled “RTC Summer” by artist Poesy Liang.

“If I want to contribute to a cause, it is better for me to give my signature, ” she said at the event held at HELP International School in Shah Alam.

RCUSJ president Datuk Seri J. Jayasiri said the idea for an auction had stemmed from the desire to do something different from previous fundraisers.

“This initiative is the result of efforts by two individuals, Datin Seri Sweelin Jayasiri and Yap Sook Yee, ” he added.

A total of RM70,000 was raised through the auction.

HELP International School principal Martin Van Rijswijk said, “We are very grateful to RCUSJ for initiating this.”

Seventy percent of the proceeds will be channelled to WeCareJourney (WCJ).

WCJ co-founder Edmund Lim said, “To have an organisation like RCUSJ on board to help us raise awareness of this condition is very encouraging. It helps us validate the importance of SMA.”

Lim and his wife, Yap, who is WCJ co-founder, have dedicated their lives to the cause.

The couple’s son Branden, who has SMA Type 2, also contributed his artworks to the auction.

Ainaa Farhanah Amali, 24, gave an inspiring speech on her journey with SMA.

“There is treatment for SMA. Unfortunately it is not available in Malaysia, ” said Ainaa, whose artwork titled “Pure” was among the auctioned pieces.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was present, said “This fundraiser also raises awareness of SMA which does not gather much attention.

“I hope more NGOs, private companies as well as the government can get on board to highlight such rare diseases, ” she added.