Mock Cheque Presentation. (L-R) Dato’ Winnie Lim, Chief of MRCA Women Division; Shirley Tay, MRCA Immediate Past President; Puan Sri Dato’ Akmal, BCWA’s Patron; Lim Kim Fong, BCWA President; Dato’ Sharan Valiram, MRCA President; YB Michelle Ng; Racheal Tan, Organizing Chairlady; Prof. Abhimanyu, Provost of Sunway University; Aiveen Wong, Deputy Chief of MRCA Women Division
The Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Women Division and Sunway University successfully co-organised the second edition of the Breast Cancer Awareness Event, themed “Think Pink, Think Life 2.0” held at Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur on 28 October 2023.
Held in conjunction with Pink October, the event was officiated by YB Michelle Ng, Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Subang Jaya witnessed by Dato’ Sharan Valiram, MRCA President and Professor Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam, Provost of Sunway University; Ms. Racheal Tan, Organising Chairlady of MRCA Women Division Think Pink, Think Life 2023, together with MRCA Women Committee members.
The half-day event attracted approximately 200 participants from all walks of life with the aim to raise self-awareness and self-care amongst women. The Think Pink Think Life 2.0 Committee successfully raised RM35,000 for Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) and Sunway Desa Mentari Community Programme to support the costing of the MURNI mobile units to rural area and B40 communities providing free clinical breast examinations by experienced nurses.
Activities included a fireside chat on breast cancer awareness, self-breast check informative talk, sharing by a Breast cancer survivor, as well a fitness dance session to round up the event.
“This event is not just to raise awareness, but also to inspire action. We want empowerment to take the foreground. We want to aim to empower women by having them equipped with essential health knowledge so that they can take lead of their life, to be better & healthier”, said organising chairperson Racheal Tan as she addressed the participants.
Fireside Chat Session
The day kicked off with a fireside chat session on Breast Cancer Awareness held with esteemed panelists Dr Aqilah Othman, Clinical Oncologist, Sunway Medical Centre; Associate Professor Dr Felicia Chung Fei Lei, Cancer Researcher, Department of Medical Sciences, Sunway University; and Ms. Lim Kim Fong, Cancer Survivor, President of BCWA; moderated by Dr. Woo Pei Jun, Senior Lecturer, Head of Department of Psychology, Sunway University. This knowledge-sharing session imparted useful information with the participants on the latest advancements and breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment and research, role of genetics and genomics in understanding risk factors and advice for breast cancer patients undergoing treatment in terms of coping and maintaining a positive outlook.
Thereafter, BCWA’s Sumitra Selvaraj, Head of Communication gave some thought-provoking insights on breast cancer awareness and education on early detection which could help save lives, while Matron Nazirah gave a short tutorial on a self-breast check for the ladies in attendance.
Next up was a touching sharing session from Breast cancer survivor, Chang Chu San who shared about her experience when she first found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer and how she positively faced it with great support from her husband. She keeps a healthy lifestyle and now leads the BCWA Pink Inspirers and Pink Power bowling group and participates in numerous exercise meets and sports.
Pumping up the crowd’s energy vibes with a fitness dance session was Associate Professor Dr Kavita Reginald from Sunway University who led the crowd with some energetic sways and moves.
The event culminated with a lucky draw session, with the lucky winners walking away with prizes totalling more than RM12,000.
