Heartfelt initiative from institutions
IN 2015, IACT College and Brickfields Asia College (BAC) merged to become one of the latest dynamic entities of higher learning in the Klang Valley.
While BAC continues to reveal itself as the “fastest and smartest” way to obtaining a tertiary education in Law and Accounting, IACT College pushes forward as Malaysia’s only “creative communication specialist”.
On Jan 11, the launch of the Rachel Siew Suet Li Trust Fund (#RSTF) marked its first united front for the two colleges.
It highlights two objectives – to create awareness on a rare degenerative condition called Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and to raise funds for BAC alumna and law graduate Rachel Siew, an MPS patient who critically requires the funds for her medical treatment.
MPS is a metabolic disorder caused by the absence or malfunctioning of lysosomal enzymes, which are crucial for physical and developmental growth.
Commonly detected before the age of three, surgeries will be needed every few years to correct the disjointed bone formation.
Without proper medical attention, patients are unable to walk and experience constant pain while their major organs deteriorate and face premature death.
Unfortunately, MPS treatment rates among the most expensive in the world due to heavy research and bio-engineer processes.
Rachel has MPS IVA, also known as Morquio syndrome, which requires RM1.6mil per annum.
Patients do not succumb to the disease because of pathophysiological reasons but because of the financial burden.
Malaysia does not offer financial relief to MPS patients, which has proven to to be a tremendous hurdle for Rachel.
This is why IACT College and BAC have come into the picture.
Championing social causes
At IACT College, students specialise in the workings of the creative media industry and all projects are directed toward community building, strengthening industry and academic engagements as well as championing social causes.
Despite being given only four weeks to plan and execute, #RSTF was the perfect challenge for the students to test their creative mettle to push Rachel’s story.
Students from all programmes (foundation, diploma and degree) offered to help by various means plausible and thus, the #RTSF campaign was set in motion.
Prior to the launch, undergraduates from the University of Sunderland’s bachelor in Media, Culture and Communication programme invited Rachel as a guest speaker for a mini-conference to profile her struggle.
They also followed Rachel to a local hospital to record a video of her weekly treatment and to interview other MPS patients.
This paved the way for a series of montages produced by students that will be time-released to galvanise the momentum of the campaign.
The diploma students took to social media to share their conversations with Rachel, using their own platform of contacts to spread Rachel’s message.
Pledge cards were designed, printed and distributed by the students and lecturers raising the funds on foot.
Students from both IACT College and BAC, including alumni, rallied as performers on the night of the launch while the foundation students volunteered as runners, ushers and floor coordinators.
By the end of the night, #RSTF managed to successfully collect RM10,000 alone at the door.
“Imagine you are sitting in an aeroplane and something happens. Naturally, you’ll be given an oxygen mask to put on yourself first before attending to others.
“I believe that this fund to me is like an oxygen mask itself. Once I stabilise I will be able to put on the same oxygen mask on other rare condition patients – which means I am able to help others who also need the voice to raise funds for them,” said Rachel in her opening speech.
#RSTF is part of the IACT College tradition in being the voice of society.
Students are taught to be a medium of communication, be socially responsible and most importantly, have a sense of purpose beyond the pursuit of academic qualifications.
IACT’s Open Day is on March 4 and 5, from 10am to 5pm at the campus in VSQ Section 14, PJ.
Visit the campus and receive personalised counselling and a guided tour to its creative-centric learning facilities.
For more information about IACT, visit iact.edu.my or call 03-7932 1936.