Tears of joy for octogenarian as wish to help others fulfilled
KUCHING: An octogenarian fulfilled her wish of helping people when she went under the razor during ‘I-Shave 6.0’ organised by Kuching Life Care Society, here yesterday.
Chong Kim Yang, 80, said she was both excited and touched when her locks were being shaved by the hairdresser.
“The funny thing is I had just cut my hair yesterday (Saturday). I have wanted to support this I-Shave but I had no one to help me sign up for it. I didn’t know who to call.
“It so happened that I met my neighbour who talked about IShave yesterday. I learnt about this event only yesterday (Saturday) and decided to have my hair shaved today (yesterday).
“I was touched (during the shave); tears rolled down my cheeks. I’m glad I finally did it,” she told journalists when met at the fundraiser held at Boulevard Shopping Mall here.
The Kelantan-born Chong, who is married to a Sarawakian, said she was just doing her part to help people.
“It’s not like I went begging people to give me money so that I can support I-Shave. I donated the money myself and had the shave. It is just a minor gesture to help.
“I’m already old; with or without hair does not matter. I’m just happy to help,” said the mother-of-seven, who could not stop smiling after her shave.
Chong, who has resided in Sarawak for 63 years, recalled that her brother-in-law died of cancer over three decades ago.
She said her brother-in-law wound up bedridden after having received electrotherapy in Singapore.
“During our time, cancer was untreatable. Those diagnosed with cancer had to go to Singapore for treatment. After the electrotherapy, he could not even bring his legs to touch the floor as it was too cold for him.
“What I did (going bald) is nothing. I am just happy that I have this opportunity to help,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kuching Life Care Society founder Hung Sung Huo said they have so far raised RM7.5 million for the proposed Palliative Care Centre in Desa Wira, Batu Kawa here.
According to him, the proposed project should be getting its final approval from the Ministry of Health (MoH) soon.
“We are not certain when the project will commence but hopefully soon. At the moment, MoH has approved the second submission of the papers.”
Hung said the proposed Palliative Care Centre – able to house 58 patients at any one time – will be the largest of its kind in the country.