100 golfers go pink for a good cause

KUALA LUMPUR: This year’s focus on raising breast cancer awareness takes on a different twist for Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. In an effort to raise breast cancer awareness not only among women but among men and to gear up support from them, a fund-raising golf tournament themed “Wear It Pink Tee Off” was held for the first time.

As many as 100 golfers, dressed in shades of pink, turned up for the Tee Off on Oct 21, at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf and Country Club. More than RM60,000 was raised through sales of a total of 25 golf flights as well as donations in aid of Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA), National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and Persatuan Kanser Network (KanWork).

The funds raised will be channelled towards funding the activities of the three NGO’s in helping breast cancer patients and to provide free surgical brasseries and prostheses for underprivileged cancer survivors.

“This year we have chosen to organise a charity golf tournament as our Wear It Pink anchor event to reach out to men on the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness,” said Dr Azlina Firzah Abdul Aziz, Breast and Endocrine Surgeon at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur and the Chairperson of Wear it Pink Campaign this year.

“Many are not aware that 1-2% of men can be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It is also important for men to understand the disease and encourage the women in their lives to attend regular screening and be aware of the symptoms of possible Breast Cancer”.

Ambassador of WIP Tee Off, Touring Pro Genevieve Ling presented the top three prizes to the winners of the charity golf tournament. Mohd Saleh Hashim was the champion of the tournament followed by runner up Chang Min Yow and Kelvin Yeow Thean Chin in thirrd place. Each winner received a trophy, limited-edition pink golf ball set and a Health Screening Package worth RM680.

The Wear It Pink Campaign has been a signature event at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur every Oct for the past 12 years, in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign is centered around initiatives to raise the awareness of breast cancer and charity fund raising for breast cancer patients and survivors.

As part of the Wear It Pink Campaign and to encourage early screening, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur is offering mammograms and ultrasounds at a discounted rate from September until December 2018.