Charitable impact: O’Connor (right) speaking with Yao Sern (left) and Hui Ern during the event at BSKL. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: He’s just a young boy, but Tan Yao Sern spent five and a half years watching his father receiving palliative care at home after falling into a coma due to a brain aneurysm.
Yao Sern, 14, had a hand in caring for his father as well by talking to him, assisting with his needs and taking him for walks.
The death of his father a year ago left him bereft.
To cope with the grief and honour his father on the first anniversary of his passing, the student at The British International School of Kuala Lumpur (BSKL) in Selangor recently launched a fundraising initiative for Hospis Malaysia, a non-profit organisation that provides free palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Through his Easing Life’s Final Journey – Hospis Malaysia fundraiser, which ran from Sept 24 to Nov 25 on the SimplyGiving online platform, Yao Sern raised over RM62,000 in just two months – far exceeding his initial target of RM25,000.
His fundraising efforts also saw him delivering speeches and taking part in a charity bazaar at his school.
“I know how hard it is to take care of patients like my father.
“So, when I found out that Hospis Malaysia provides these services for free, helping people who cannot afford them, I was touched, and that inspired me to start this fundraiser for them,” Yao Sern said in his speech at the mock cheque presentation held during his school’s morning assembly yesterday.
He added that he was grateful for the amount raised, as it allowed him to make an impact in supporting palliative care services.
During the two months of spreading awareness about Hospis Malaysia and raising funds for the organisation, Yao Sern also wrote blog entries on the fundraising platform, sharing heartfelt memories of his father every two days.
“I wanted others to know about him, and to remind those who knew him of the great person he was,” he said.
These blog entries have been compiled into a book – along with five entries written by Yao Sern’s 12-year-old sister Hui Ern, and a letter to their father from their mother Evelyn Boon – which the family plans to distribute to donors.
Boon said Yao Sern’s initiative had been a healing process for him.
“It took a lot of hard work. He had to juggle schoolwork, tuition and extracurricular activities, so blogging every two days was tough. But I’m glad he did it because words heal,” she said.
She also recalled how tough things had been for her son as he was going through his teenage years and coping with the sudden loss of his father, who he had been very close to.
“After writing more and more, I could see him feeling lighter,” she said.
Boon added that the experience was also a learning process for Yao Sern.
“He has learnt so much through this – not just about healing himself and hoping to heal others, but also understanding people.
“I think that’s the most important thing – learning how to reach out to others, which is not easy. He faced a lot of rejections and false hopes, but he has learnt how to respond better,” she said.
Hospis Malaysia strategy and communications director Tham Su Ming, who was present to receive the mock cheque along with items collected for the upcoming Hospis Malaysia Charity Bazaar 2024, said the work the organisation does with Yao Sern’s funds will serve as a testament to his efforts and a tribute to the memory of his father.
“We are extremely grateful to Yao Sern for launching this initiative and creating greater awareness among his friends and school community.
“The funds will go towards supporting our patient services, which Yao Sern is passionate about,” she said.
BSKL principal Dr Mike O’Connor commended Yao Sern for his effort.
“He has turned a difficult situation into something that will help him process and move through his grief, which was really challenging. But he decided to do something positive and help others. He’s really admirable, and we’re proud of him.
“It’s an enormous amount of money to raise, and we’re confident it will support the hospice and do some great work,” he said.
