Curtin Sarawak takes up Ice Bucket Challenge

Miri – 29 August 2014 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) took up a challenge by the Interhill Group of Companies to carry out the ice bucket challenge yesterday.

28 staff and students of the university participated in the challenge in aid of a local charity, Rumah Amal Kesayangan Kami, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research.

The challenge at Curtin Sarawak was organised by the Curtin Sarawak Student Council led by president Mohammad Kamit, who got the ball rolling with the first bucket tip, followed by Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski, Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Ching and the others.

According to Mienczakowski, Curtin Sarawak was happy to take up Interhill’s challenge and contribute to charity as it is line with the university’s community outreach initiatives and its commitment to engaging communities and transform lives.

The ice bucket challenge, which has gone viral on social media, is being carried out worldwide by individuals and corporate organisations.

To keep the ice bucket challenge going in Miri, Curtin Sarawak has nominated Fajar International College, Riam Institute of Technology and Tenby International School, Miri to take up the challenge.

A video clip and photos of the challenge at Curtin Sarawak can be viewed on the University’s Facebook page (CurtinUniversitySarawakMalaysia).

ALS, which is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain’s nerve cells and spinal cord. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to death and patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralysed. Members of the public interested to donate to the cause can visit www.alsa.org/ to find out more.

Rumah Amal Kesayangan Kami (RAKK), established in 2007, is a local home for orphans and children from poor families and broken homes. It currently has some 30 children under its care.

Students dunking icy water onto Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

(L-R) Mohammad Kamit, Prof Jim Mienczakowski, Nicholas Ching, Corporate Communications Manager Nicholas Leong, Acting Marketing Manager Klaus Sim and other staff pose for group photo.