Inspiring: Sarlinawati is expected to make her solo motorcycle journey next April.
ISKANDAR PUTERI: A cancer survivor here will be embarking on a solo motorcycle journey across 22 countries to raise funds and awareness about cancer.
Sarlinawati Abdul Mues, 48, said she also plans to visit cancer centres in the countries she will be travelling through, as well as the World Health Organisation headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I plan to start my journey from Kuala Lumpur in April next year and end in Saudi Arabia about four months later.
“Along the way, I will be collecting funds for the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and raising awareness about cancer,” Sarlinawati said at the launch of Johor NCSM’s cancer support centre in Taman Nusantara Prima here yesterday.
Sarlinawati, a mother of one child from Kota Tinggi, was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2021.
Having endured the pain and suffering, she hopes to help other patients and set up the Himpunan Kanser Semalaya.
“I have met many cancer patients who face all kinds of challenges. I have heard heartbreaking stories of patients being abandoned by their spouses and families.
“Many of them, including the breadwinners of families, lost their jobs due to the disease.
“I want to do what I can to help them and embarking on this journey is one way I can contribute,” said Sarlinawati, who won her battle with cancer in March.
She went on a solo motorcycle ride across Peninsular Malaysia in October last year.
“I want to inspire cancer patients and remind them that they don’t have to give up,” she said, adding that diagnosing with the deadly disease is not the end of the world.
At the launch, NCSM managing director Assoc Prof Dr M. Murallitharan said the cancer support centre, which can accommodate up to 300 patients, is expected to begin operations in March next year.
Its services include cancer screenings, mental health support and consultations with dieticians, he said.
“This will be our first cancer support centre in Johor and the seventh in the country.
“This centre is important as Johor recorded the highest number of cancer cases for many years,” he said.
He also said there will be mobile clinics going around the state to provide free cancer screening.
Also present was Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who is also Iskandar Puteri MP.
