Ride 1,100km to raise funds for cancer patients

Zaidi, who has been fighting leukaemia since 1994 and mouth cancer since 2010, will be cycling to raise funds for Makna.

IN 2021, Malaysia registered nearly 50,000 cancer cases and this number is expected to double in 2040.

National Cancer Council (Makna), which was founded in 1994, is one of the biggest associations helping cancer patients and their families in fighting the illness while reducing pain and suffering.

In 2020, RM15mil in aid was disbursed through Makna to nearly 7,000 cancer patients.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) will be raising funds for Makna with its Cycle for Cancer 2022 campaign from July 15 to 24.

The route will cover over 1,100km from Sandakan, Sabah, to Sibu, Sarawak, where Makna’s headquarters is located.

“Cancer is a devastating illness to both the individual and community. “It is usually an incurable and long-drawn condition with serious mental, emotional, physical and financial impacts,” said MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai.

“The funds raised through Cycle for Cancer will help support the various needs of cancer patients in the country.

“Many of us have seen the challenges that cancer sufferers and their loved ones go through.

“We hope through this effort, we will be able to help improve the quality of life of many who are affected by the disease,” he said.

To start the ball rolling, MMA pledged a donation of RM50,000.

Leading the logistics and support crew for the event is Danny Goh, 56, who was born and bred in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

He has been fighting stage four thyroid cancer since 2016 and is currently on oral chemotherapy – made possible by Makna’s financial support.

Besides driving the lead car, he will also cycle as much as he can.

Another beneficiary of Makna, Zaidi Salim, 57, from Johor, has fought leukaemia since 1994 and mouth cancer since 2010.

He will be cycling the whole 1,100km route.

The public can help by contributing or taking part in the event.

Donations can be made to MMA Foundation’s UOB account 1063 0577 41 marked “CFC2022 donation”.

The bank’s Swift code (for international donations) is UOVBMYKL.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Those who wish to participate as a cyclist, sponsor or volunteer, can email [e-mail] or call 03-4041 1375 ext 113 (Rafikah), from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).

For details, visit www.mma.org.my/cycle-for-cancer-2022