StarMetro article about the appeal for funds on July 12.
WITHIN a short period, donations for Soo Ayi Wen, who has B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, reached RM150,000 and she can now undergo a bone marrow transplant operation.
Earlier this year, Ayi Wen, 26, was told that she needed the transplant but her family could not afford the RM150,000 operation.
Without a transplant, she would have to endure endless cycles of painful chemotherapy.
As such, the family sought assistance from CCEP Foundation and incumbent Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah to raise the funds.
After the article was published in StarMetro on July 12 with the heading, “Funds for bone marrow transplant”, donations poured in.
Within a few days, the target of RM150,000 was reached.
Both Ayi Wen and her sister Ayi Yee, 31, work at a food delivery platform.
Her elder sister expressed the family’s gratitude for the generous donations.
“It was a heartwarming experience to feel the warmth of Malaysians,” she said.
“The doctor said July and August will be the golden period for my sister as that is when she will undergo the operation.
“We never expected so much support as in less than a week, costs for the transplant was met.”
Ayi Yee said after the news spread, both her sister and her received greetings from their school friends, university coursemates and relatives.
She said they were thankful for everyone who helped make a difference.
“We always thought that once my sister completed chemotherapy, she would recover.
“We didn’t disclose her condition until the doctor said we needed such a large amount of money for the bone marrow transplant.
“That was when we decided to seek help from the public.”
Ayi Yee said the family are now focusing their attention on the transplant.
“The doctor said her leukaemia is in the very early stages, and combined with her youth, the chances of recovery after the operation is high,” she added.
Ean Yong said his service centre had collaborated with CCEP Foundation on several occasions, but those were small-scale fundraising activities.
This was the first time they conducted a huge public fundraising campaign, he added.
“To achieve the target within such a short period of time once again proves that Malaysia is a place full of love. I am truly touched,” he said.
CCEP Group chief executive officer Yee Poo Yoon said relatives and friends of the two sisters were undoubtedly the driving force behind the fundraising campaign.
It was thanks to their efforts that everything progressed so quickly.
“For the past few days, we have been working overtime on this.
“Donations have been pouring in and we responded to enquiries, even in the middle of the night,” she said.
Yee added that CCEP Founation had already started working with the hospital to handle the procurement of the bone marrow.
