500 walk to raise fund for Wisma St Joseph
MIRI: More than 500 people participated in St Joseph’s Family Walkathon to raise money for Wisma St Joseph Building Fund yesterday.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin flagged off the walkaton from St Francis Centre at Brighton Road here .
“I want to congratulate Bishop Richard Ng for introducing a number of projects since his appointment to Miri diocese. In fact, he came up with this very ambitious project, which is Wisma St Joseph,” Lee said in his address.
Elaborating, he said there are also two new churches in the pipeline at Tudan and Permyjaya.
“We already have the funding for the church in Tudan and are now working on the one for Permyjaya. We have secured a piece of land in Permyjaya.
“Therefore, we need a lot of support for the projects to be completed. I hope everyone can do their bit and on my part I will do my very best to get whatever funding I can from the government for these projects,” he said.
He added that the Unit For Other Religions (UR) under Sarawak government has given a RM1 million allocation to St Joseph Building Fund.
“We will try to source for more funding when the project commences. I will contribute whatever I can from my yearly allocation as well. This year I have allocated RM50,000 for the church.
“Let us all work together. I am sure I can do more for Wisma St Joseph. It is something very dear to my heart, because I had my primary and secondary education in this very school. St. Joseph school gave me a good education and made me who I am today” said Lee.
Meanwhile, Bishop Ng who spoke earlier expressed his gratitude and appreciation to sponsors and participants, including those who contributed cash and in kind to make the event a success.
A charity sale held during the event featured a variety of food, drinks, produce and merchandise with the proceeds going to the building fund, while a colourful bouncy castle delighted the children.
Among those present to witness the walkathon was Piasau assemblyman Sebastian Ting.