Yakeb go out of their way to help Paralympians in Sarawak

I’ll treasure this: Para swimmer Yusup Dewa is overwhelmed and grateful for Yakeb’s support.

PETALING JAYA: No distance is too far for the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) as they have ventured into Sarawak to provide support for former national athletes.

In their recent visit to Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, they visited former national para athletes - swimmer Yusup Dewa and weightlifter Fatimah Wagimin - and contributed wheel chairs for the duo.

Under their visit and treat campaign, Yakeb do not want anyone to be left behind. It was their first visit to Sarawak.

2008 Beijing Paralympian Yusup was overwhelmed with the visit.

“I’ve retired for some time but this is the first time that someone has visited me.

“I’m overwhelmed and grateful for the support,” said the former military man, who was wounded and paralysed in his first year of service at the age of 22.

The incident did not dampen Yusup’s spirit as he went on to represent Malaysia in swimming and contributed three gold medals at the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games. He also bagged a silver and bronze at the Far East and South Pacific Games (Fespic Games) in the 2006 edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Fatimah was reduced to tears after the team’s visit.

The 2004 Athens Paralympian, who finished fourth and won a gold at the 2003 Vietnam Para Games, is working as a tailor and appreciated Yakeb’s good gesture.

Yakeb was represented by their chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed and general manager Zuhairi Abdul Mana. They were accompanied by Kota Samarahan City Council representative Florince Christy and social development, community and tourism chairman Joharie Leman.

Noorul Ariffin said they would hold a reunion for other former athletes in Sarawak and promised that none would be left out as the welfare body intend to support all those who had contributed for the nation.

Last month, Yakeb had held a gathering in Penang to plan a gathering of former greats in the northern region.