Strong support from students and staff for Go Bald Satellite Shave at Curtin Sarawak

Miri – 22 May 2014 – Students and staff of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) turned up in full force to support the university’s second Go Bald Satellite Shave in aid of the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) Go Bald 6.0 campaign recently.

The event held at the university’s Harry Perkins Lecture Theatre was organised by Curtin Sarawak’s corporate communications department and student council in collaboration with the SCCS’ Miri branch.

It saw 70 students and staff, including five females, getting their heads shaved in a gesture of solidarity with children affected by cancer and raise funds for the SCCS.

According to event coordinator Lilian Lai, only 39 signed up initially but the numbers swelled to 70 by the end of the event. This was a significant increase over the 53 who went bald last year. A number of Curtin Sarawak students are also expected to have their heads shaved at the main event at Miri’s Bintang Megamall on 25 May while others are supporting the cause by helping to collect public donations.

A sum of RM9,100 was raised and the funds will go towards the SCCS’ efforts to support rural families affected by childhood cancer and for the young patients to seek treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.

It includes providing housing and financial, counselling and emotional support for the patients and their families; providing medical consumables and financing bone marrow transplants; and helping family members secure new jobs or sign up at new schools while the patients are undergoing treatment in Kuching.

Go Bald is an awareness and fundraising event organised annually by the SCCS in various cities and towns throughout Sarawak. By encouraging members of the public to shave their heads, it aims to send the message to children that hair loss is only a temporary setback in their road to recovery.

In his opening speech, Curtin Sarawak’s Corporate Communications Manager Nicholas Leong said the university is committed to help the SCCS raise awareness of childhood cancer among the people of Miri, particularly within its campus community.

“So little is known about the different forms of cancer that afflict our children, and how they affect their families and loved ones. We will definitely continue supporting Go Bald for as long as it continues,” said Leong.

Meanwhile, Student Council President Muhammad bin Haji Kamit, who was one of the shavees, said the student council had organised a mini donation drive and raised RM5,000 for the event.

“I believe this is a cause that everyone should participate in. I am proud that 14 out of our 20 Student Council members went bald for the cause. I hope that by their example, we are sending a positive message to others in our campus community and the larger community that much more can be done to assist the cancer patients,” commented Muhammad.

For more information on the Go Bald 6.0 campaign, visit www.sccs.org.my.

Students getting their heads shaved to show their support towards the event.

Three of the brave female students who went bald.

Staff and students posing for a group photo at the end of the event.