Friday March 23, 2012

Club to hold annual fundraiser for down syndrome centre

By CHRISTINA LOW
christinalow@thestar.com.my
Photos by ART CHEN

ONE of the country’s longest running competition, the Kiwanis Treasure Hunt returns for the 29th year promising to give “hunters” a challenging experience ahead.

Organising chairman Tee Han Cheong said his team chose Pangkor Island Resort as the destination for the annual event this year to take “hunters” away from the city for the weekend.

The event to be held from May 26 to 28 will begin in Kuala Lumpur, taking participants through a series of obstacles, before they eventually arrive at the resort later in the day.

All in good faith: Cheong (front row, first from left) and the sponsors of the treasure hunt.

The hunt, themed Fantasy Island Escapade, was officially launched by LBS Bina Group managing director Datuk Lim Hock San at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre in Petaling Jaya.

Lim, who earlier contributed RM50,000 to Kiwanis, made a surprise top-up and announced that he will be donating RM120,000 instead.

The surprise gave Kiwanis Club of Kuala Lumpur a head start into the fundraising effort where Cheong said, “We have reached our target of collecting RM400,000 but more contributions will enable us to help these children in their studies.”

Expenses for a year usually amount to about RM700,000 where the centre is currently serving up to 300 children of all ages.

“We rely on public donations and funds from corporate entities as well as contributions made through treasure hunts to keep us going,” Cheong said.

For a start, he said, they are thankful that with the contributions from various sponsors, this could last them for a few months before they have to head out to look for funds again.

He hopes more will take part in their treasure hunt this year as the organisers chose a destination where “hunters” could bring their family along for a short holiday away from the city.

Main sponsors for the event are Bina Puri, Cantolli, Carpet Ideas, Dunham-Bush Industries, LBS Bina Group, Paramount Property Development and Sri Kuala Lumpur.

Co-sponsors are Acer Sales and Services, Aura Marketing, Autoliv Hirotako, M&C Engineering, Palam Mesra, Stream Environment while media partners are The Star and Sin Chew Daily.

Closing date for entries is on April 27 or upon reaching 100 entries.

Entry forms can be downloaded at www.kckl.org.my or call 03-7958 3655 (Kwai Ying) or 017-2828 317 (Wei Ming)