FOR children who have spent years enduring chemotherapy, surgeries and endless hospital visits, Kids Day Out 2026 offers a precious opportunity to set medicine aside and simply laugh, play and be a child again.
Organised by Friends of Childhood Cancer Northern Malaysia (Foccan) at the Caring Society Complex in Penang, the event brought together young cancer survivors, those still undergoing treatment and their families for a day packed with joy and community support.
Among those joining the festivities was eight-year-old Shafi Mikael Mohd Sharul, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when he was just two years old.
His mother, Nurul Asmiera Marzuki, recalled that Shafi had suffered from persistent fever, appetite loss and abdominal swelling before tests at Penang Hospital revealed that nearly 80% of his white blood cells were cancerous.
After undergoing chemotherapy and home treatments for nearly two and a half years, Shafi reached a milestone in May when his chemotherapy port was removed.
“He experienced severe mood swings partly due to steroid treatments and he suffered from mouth ulcers that made eating painful,” said Nurul Asmiera, adding that Shafi had completed his main treatment and was steadily returning to normal life.
For Rais Rafael Rozaidi, 13, overcoming cancer meant adapting to a new way of seeing the world.
His mother, Nor Aishah Fathin Che Azmi, said Rais was diagnosed with eye cancer at the age of three and underwent chemotherapy before having his right eye surgically removed.
“He was sad at first because he was so young, but he gradually adapted,” he said.
Rais now relies on his left eye, with a prosthetic eye fitted on his right to restore his natural appearance.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old S. Anusha Jane and her mother, V. Punitha Mitha, 40, travelled from Kulim, Kedah, to attend the event.
Anusha was diagnosed with bone cancer last year after her right leg swelled up, which her family initially mistook for a sports injury.
An MRI scan at Penang Hospital confirmed the diagnosis, leading to nine months of chemotherapy and limb-sparing surgery.
Punitha noted that while doctors expected Anusha to walk normally again, she would likely have to give up active hobbies like dancing and karate.
The event at the complex featured an array of interactive highlights, including health screenings, stage performances, educational displays by uniformed bodies and traditional game stations such as can knock- down, slam dunk and sand art.
The Utara Bikers club treated the children to gentle rides on their big bikes around the compound.
The motorcycling group prepared 150 special stickers for the participants and raised RM1,500 among its members for Foccan.
Launching the event, Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen reminded attendees that the drive behind Kids Day Out was to see young patients beyond their medical conditions.
“Kids Day Out invites us to see them as children, not just patients,” Gooi said.
“They want to play, laugh, make friends and experience life just like any other child.”
Also present at the event were Foccan adviser Dr Tan Eng Guan and president Maznah Tayib.
