KPR to raise funds to have own building to house breast cancer patients
KOTA KINABALU: Kinabalu Pink Ribbon (KPR) hopes to have its own building this year to serve as a halfway house for breast cancer patients seeking treatment in Kota Kinabalu. Its president, Datin Lucilla Pang, said that raising funds to realise their ambition will be among the focus of their activities that will be implemented by KPR this year.
“When people are diagnosed with cancer, it can be a debilitating experience, affecting not only their emotional wellbeing but also their finances.
“KPR understands the struggle and is providing a temporary home for breast cancer patients and survivors undergoing treatment in the city.
Known as ‘The Pink Haven’, this rent-free house offers a safe and supportive environment, but it is only a temporary solution,” she said during a luncheon with the media at Promenade Hotel near here on Thursday.
Lucilla would be leading the organisation in a fund-raising drive to purchase their own building for the ‘The Pink Haven’.
“This will provide long-term support to those on their cancer journey,” she said.
She urged members of the public to join them in making a positive impact on those affected by cancer.
“Your support can make a difference. You can participate in the fund-raising efforts by joining the Mother’s Day Walk Abreast or attend the gala dinner (in October). These events are a great opportunity to show support and raise funds to help lighten the burden of those on their cancer journey,” she said.
At the same time, KPR has also acquired a Mobile Ultrasound Machine in partnership with the Breast Clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2, which improves early detection and treatment.
“With the help of this machinery, the incidence of delayed examination due to long queues in hospitals is reduced, allowing for immediate followup treatment.
“KPR has conducted outreach programmes with a focus on areas in and around Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and other districts.
Our attention in this outreach programme this year will be focused in these areas,” she said.
Lucilla also told reporters that many women still opt to seek traditional treatment when they detect lumps in their breasts.
She said that based on their work on the ground creating awareness on this matter, they learn that for many especially rural folks, seeking treatment was a scary thing.
It also involves a lot of costs for the lower income groups, she said.
“We hope to see how to widen our scope of work and create awareness because many still prefer to keep quiet or seek traditional treatment when they have lumps on their breasts, which could be a first sign of breast cancer,” she said.
“Hence, we hope to expand our branches to other parts of Sabah, creating awareness on early detection and treatment options but we need a lot of help to make this work,” said Pang who is a breast cancer survivor.