Athletes, para athletes strut their stuff for a good cause
Malaysian athletes and para athletes set aside their competitive streaks to showcase their sartorial prowess for charity.
Twenty sportsmen and sportswomen participated in the Athletes For Charity fashion show, organised by White Elephant – Retail for Charity at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Dressed by BritishIndia, they strutted their modelling talents on the runway to raise funds for disabled children in the country.
Rio Paralympic gold medalist Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, 27, said he was happy to participate in the event, knowing that he was aiding the needy.
“This is a new experience for me. Never in my career as a shot putter have I joined a fashion show.
“It’s good to be a part of charity. What matters is that it comes from a place of sincerity,” he said.
S. Shree Sharmini, a 2017 SEA Games gold medallist, said as an athlete, she wanted to give back to the community.
“It’s my pleasure to be a part of this charity event.
“We (athletes) get allowances from the public, so we have to also give back (to the community),” said the 25-year-old karate exponent.
Para swimmer Carmen Lim, who retained her women’s (S8) 50m freestyle title with a new record at the 9th Asean Para Games, said she supported the cause as the funds will go to severely disabled children.
“I’m used to swimming with many people watching, but I was not prepared (for the fashion show).
“I hope I did good!” said the 17-year-old one-armed swimmer.
White Elephant, a joint corporate social responsibility project by BritishIndia and UEM Sunrise, will pledge RM100,000 to the Taman Megah Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Home.
Funds will also be distributed to Hospis Malaysia, a charitable organisation which provides professional community palliative care to those with life-limiting illnesses.