In support of Cancer research and awareness in Malaysia, Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd (SDISB) and Tractor’s Malaysia launched a fundraising campaign in October 2019 to raise funds for Cancer Research Malaysia and Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society.
As part of the campaign, two 320GC Caterpillar excavator models were painted in pink and rented out to key customers in East and Peninsular Malaysia. The Rental funds were channeled back to the fundraising campaign.
RM60,000 was raised for the Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) through donations by Iswarabena Sdn Bhd, Advancecon Holdings Berhad and Crestbuilder Holdings Berhad in addition to RM17,000 already raised for the organisation in October 2019 when it was launched. Iswarabena Sdn Bhd, Advancecon Holdings Berhad and Crestbuilder Holding Berhad donated RM20,000 each through the rental of the pink excavator for a duration of two weeks.
Another RM50,000 was similarly raised in East Malaysia in October and donated to the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society.
In total, RM127,000 was raised through the fundraising campaign.
Cancer Research Malaysia is an independent and non-profit cancer research organisation based in Malaysia that conducts research in cancers often found in the Asian population. The organisation has already won acclaim and numerous awards for their work, which has benefitted thousands of people across the region.
“Today, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients can be close to 90%, but in many hospitals, the survival is only 49% to 65% because of late diagnosis and poor adherence to treatment. Cancer Research Malaysia has partnered with the Ministry of Health to ensure that we can improve the survival of Malaysian cancer patients."
-Prof Datin Paduka Dr Teo
According to Mr. CK Teoh, the Managing Director of SDISB, besides raising funds, the companies had also created awareness by positioning the machines at prominent locations within their respective projects.
“We are proud to collaborate with like-minded business partners who are ever willing to contribute towards a worthy cause. We hope to maintain the momentum this year to create the much needed awareness on cancer.
“According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, cancer is now the second highest cause of death among Malaysians after heart disease. Of most of the cancer cases in the country, about 60% are detected during the late stages, mostly due to lack of awareness on the importance of screening and early detection among Malaysians.
“Sadly, the numbers are expected to increase in the coming years. It is our hope that through campaigns like the Pink Excavator, we can help to raise the level of awareness among Malaysians,” Teoh said.
Prof Datin Paduka Dr Teo said that funds raised will be used to improve outcome for low income breast cancer patients through the Patient Navigation Programme (PNP). The PNP initiative ensures timely movement of patients through a complex healthcare continuum by bringing together a public hospital system and charity partner to tackle financial, logistics and other barriers faced by breast cancer patients in Malaysia.
“Today, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients can be close to 90%, but in many hospitals, the survival is only 49% to 65% because of late diagnosis and poor adherence to treatment. Cancer Research Malaysia has partnered with the Ministry of Health to ensure that we can improve the survival of Malaysian cancer patients.
At our Pink Ribbon centre in Klang, we reduced the barriers for patients and this has reduced treatment default rates from 15% to 4%. 2019 marks a significant year for the programme with the expansion to new centres in Kota Kinabalu, Seremban and Kuching. All of this work was funded by charitable donations, so we are really delighted to be partnering once again with Sime Darby Industrial to ensure that we can improve survival for breast cancer in Malaysians.”