Society for Sabah Heart Fund raises over RM123,000 from charity dinner
KOTA KINABALU: The Society for the Sabah Heart Fund (SOSHF) has raised RM123,434.65 from its recent 36th Anniversary Celebration Cum Fund Raising Charity Dinner.
SOSHF honorary secretary Datuk Eva Susau said that the amount raised would go towards subsidizing the cost of airfare for the free medical treatment of its congenital heart patients and their escort to South Korea.
The fund will also be used to pay for the transportation fare and for the allowances of their young heart patients who could ill afford them while undergoing medical review at the specialist hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
In addition, it will also be used to kick start the support group for the SOSHF former congenital heart disease patients.
Eva explained that the cost of airfare to South Korea had risen since the beginning of this year.
She also elaborated that their patients were mostly poor who were dependent on their livestock and farm to raise money before they could make it to the city for medical check-ups or appointments.
“Many times, some have been unable to come for their appointments because they simply do not have enough money to pay for the transport fare,” said Eva.
She added that candidates that were selected to undergo for the corrective heart surgery would first have to be assessed by the Social Welfare Department at the Likas Hospital or the Cardiac Paediatric Unit.
Eva also said that they hoped to start the Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Support group which would consist of their former patients.
She said that part of the money raised from the event would be used for this purpose.
She added that they hoped to update all information on their ex-patients such as how they were doing after undergoing treatment and to create a database to record their over 600 sponsored patients.
“We would appreciate if they can call us at 088-228488 or contact us through our Facebook page Sabah Heart Fund or email us at sbhheartfund@gmail.com.”
Information concerning SOSHF can also be garnered from its website, www.sabahheartfund. com.
She said that SOSHF was hoping to organize a gathering with all its former patients.
Aside from that, the support group will also function as a network to connect all the former patients and provide support for families that suffered from the ordeal and do not know what to do after learning about their child’s hole in the heart predicament.
“We would like these parents to know that there is hope even when your child is diagnosed with congenital heart disease,” she said.
Eva also expressed her gratitude who made the event possible and those who generously contributed to their cause.
Nevertheless, she reminded that there were still a lot of patients that needed assistance and urged the public to continuously give and support their mission.