Charity sponsorship to climb Gunung Brinchang

17 organisations taking part in charity project to raise RM500,000
By Jade Chan and Keisha Tait
Friday June 19, 2009

The theme "Being Adventurous Can Help The Less Fortunate" sets the stage for "Rock the Mountain for Charity", a project that aims to raise funds while getting participants involved in a healthy activity.

The project, organised by the Nanyang Press Foundation, targets to raise at least RM500,000.

Funds will be raised via collection cards, campaigns at education institutions and sponsorships.

Seventeen organisations have confirmed their participation thus far, including Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Help University College, Life College, Tunku Abdul Rahman College, Advance Tertiary College (ATC) School of Law, Help International College of Technology, Beaconhouse Malaysia Sdn Bhd, PT Foundation and Assunta Hospital.

Fifty per cent of the funds will be distributed to the participating education institutions or organisations for their own activities, 40% to charities recommended by the organisations (subject to approval by the foundation board) and 10% to the foundation for the sponsorship to climb Bukit Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wee Jeck Seng, who launched the event, said it was encouraging to see college and university students getting together and raising funds for their favourite charities.

"At the same time, this project helps promote a healthy lifestyle, recreation, team-building and leadership training to all, particularly those from the younger generation.

"It is also a golden opportunity for the students to meet informally, and share experiences and ideas," Wee said in his speech.

Magdeline Lim, 18, who is attending a Foundation in Arts course at Help University College, said her motivation for signing up was to help those in need.

She added that she had not known about the foundation’s existence until recently, and was glad that it was about giving back to the community while creating awareness among the public about its causes.

S. Vinayagamurthi, 21, who also sits on ATC School of Law’s student council, revealed that his motivation came from the event’s co-organiser, who is also the former principal of his college.

"As far as I know, this is the first time a newspaper foundation is doing such an event and I am proud to be a part of this," he said.

The foundation’s executive director, Ann Woo, said they welcomed more education institutions and non-government organisations (NGOs) to take part in the project.

"Upon raising RM10,000, one person from that organisation will get to take part in the climb," she said.

The foundation has raised over RM30mil for the sick, the handicapped and the elderly since its establishment a decade ago.

In addition to organising various training courses and counselling programmes for NGOs, schools and the relevant public, the foundation has set up four dialysis centres and has been funding their operations with the public’s support.

The Rock the Mountain for Charity project ends on July 31.

The climb will be held during the first weekend of August.

For details, contact the Nanyang Press Foundation at 03-7650 8669/ 8694 or nyfound@nanyang.com.my.

-- The Star