KUCHING: Kuching Life Care Society is short of RM4.6 million for its proposed RM6 million Palliative Care Centre — believed to be the first of its kind in the state.
Chairman and founder Hung Sung Huo said pledge cards for major fundraising event I-Shave will be launched during a Lunar New Year dinner on Feb 16 at Sin Lung Sheng Fu Tiao Qiang Restaurant.
“We are hoping to raise half a million ringgit this time around. A local prominent businessman Mr Ling has aimed to raise more than RM200,000 alone.
“Pledge cards for I-Shave will be launched during our annual Chinese New Year gathering when 30 tables have been lined up for guests and supporters of all our past fundraising activities,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.
The inaugural I-Shave took place at Plaza Merdeka last June 30 with more than 100 individuals going bald for the society to help raise RM300,000 for the project.
At that time, businessman Datuk Peter Hii raised RM230,000 for the campaign.
Hung said 200 pledge cards were printed last year and this would increase to 300 for the next I-Shave scheduled for April or May.
Tickets for the dinner are priced at RM400 per table and available by calling the hotline 013-8038999.
Former Deputy Works Minister and Stampin Member of Parliament Datuk Yong Khoon Seng will be the guest-of-honour.
The society has been raising funds for the proposed centre for around two years.
Palliative care is increasingly used with regard to diseases other than cancer such as chronic progressive pulmonary disorders, renal disease, chronic heart failure, HIV/AIDS and progressive neurological conditions.
The centre aims to provide a support system to help terminally ill individuals live as actively as possible as well as to sustain and assist the individual’s family.
It is designed to accommodate up to 78 terminally ill patients and will provide required services such as place of treatment, terminal sedation and use of medication to treat symptoms.
The proposed two-storey building will consist of 34 rooms, a reception office, general office, meeting room, caretaker’s room, living room, dining room, common kitchen, multipurpose room, library as well as two consultation and treatment rooms.
Donations can be made to Kuching Life Care Society’s Public Bank account No. 3122 2088 25.
Donors can call the 013-8038999 hotline to get a receipt for a tax deduction.