PITP Sahur eyes helping more hospitals with pre-fast sahur meal
KUALA LUMPUR: A few years ago, Tiara Shahrani Shahrom, 39, came up with the idea of arranging for pre- fast ‘sahur’ meal for hospital staff and those accompanying patients.
The baker and cake designer was then volunteering at a medical facility to help children with cancer.
“When I was volunteering there making cakes for the kids, I realised that the staff were putting in everything they had. And it dawned on me that most of them, including those who accompanied the patients, never had a proper meal before starting their fast,” she told Bernama.
She then gathered her trusted friends and started what is known as the Picnic in the Park ( PITP) Sahur event at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre ( PPUM).
With zero experience but filled with determination, she got the initiative rolling with the help of volunteers and has since turned it into an annual event.
“Now after four years, we’’re adding another hospital to the list, namely Serdang Hospital. At first we were worried about getting the necessary approval but now many hospitals have called us asking whether we can include them on the list,” Tiara Shahrani said.
She said her team aimed to distribute 920 food packs at PPUM on June 3 and 4, and more than 1,000 at Serdang Hospital on June 17 and 18.
She thanked the public for their support which she described as ‘overwhelming’.
“We’’re a non- profit organisation and we don’’t aim to be one. What we hope is that others will emulate what we do at their respective locations,” she said, adding that PITP Sahur welcomed volunteers. — Bernama