COMPASSION, community spirit and healthy living took centre stage today as the Silver Jubilee Home celebrated its 90th anniversary with the inaugural Charity With Love Run, a landmark event that drew close to 1,000 participants and raised RM404,000 for the care of the elderly.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin announced an allocation of RM20,000, bringing the total sum collected to RM424,000.
Officiating the event, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow described the run as a meaningful way to commemorate nine decades of service, while reflecting the values that define Penang as a caring and inclusive state.
“I commend the organisers for marking this important milestone in such a meaningful way, by celebrating compassion, healthy living, and strong community spirit,” he said in his speech at the Silver Jubilee Home in Jalan Sungai Dua today.
The five-kilometre fundraising run and walk welcomed participants of all ages and fitness levels, including residents of the Home themselves, a moment that deeply impressed the Chief Minister.
“I am especially heartened by the participation of the Home’s own residents, who completed the route according to their respective abilities.
“Your determination and positive spirit beautifully capture the true meaning of today’s event,” Chow said.
He noted that the RM404,000 raised through the generosity of donors and supporters would go a long way in enhancing the quality of life of the Home’s residents.
Penang Forward Sports Club (PFSC) chairman and organising chairman of the run, Datuk Lim Choo Hooi, said the strong support from all sectors of society reflected the community’s deep compassion and goodwill towards the elderly.
“With the strong support from all sectors of society, this charity run has successfully raised RM404,000, exceeding our initial fundraising target and attracting more than 1,000 participants,” he said, describing the achievement as a testament to collective effort and social responsibility.
Lim said the Penang Silver Jubilee Home, founded in 1935, has for nine decades remained steadfast in its mission to provide free care for senior citizens, sustained largely through the selfless support of benefactors, volunteers and organisations across generations.
“This long-standing commitment has enabled the Home to become not only a place of refuge for senior citizens, but also a beacon of warmth and hope within our society,” he said.
He added that the Charity With Love Run, held in conjunction with the Winter Solstice, went beyond fundraising by promoting healthy lifestyles, strengthening family bonds and encouraging community unity.
“Today’s event is not solely about fundraising. It is about bringing families and the community together, promoting health through physical activity, and injecting positive energy into society at large,” he said.
Beyond fundraising, Chow said the event served as a powerful reminder of the importance of healthy lifestyles, strong community bonds and greater awareness of caring for the elderly and the less fortunate.
“For 90 years, Silver Jubilee Home has been a sanctuary for those in need, the abandoned, the lonely, the poor, and elderly individuals with no family to turn to,” he said, adding that what makes the Home exceptional is that all services, including food, shelter and medical care, are provided entirely free of charge.
“This spirit has endured for nine decades thanks to the generosity of the public, the dedication of donors and volunteers, and the unwavering commitment of the General Committee and staff.”
Touching on broader demographic challenges, Chow highlighted that Penang is facing a rapidly ageing population, making long-term planning and stronger support systems increasingly critical.
“In this regard, I welcome the recent calls at the national level to expedite the drafting of a Senior Citizens Bill to safeguard the rights, dignity and well-being of our elderly,” he said.
Chow also took the opportunity to remind the public to exercise patience and caution on the roads during the year-end festive period, noting the expected increase in traffic, particularly with the 50% toll discount from Dec 23 to 24.
Concluding, he underscored that compassion must be translated into action.
“Events like the Charity With Love Run remind us that compassion is not just a value, it is an action.
“And caring for our seniors is not the duty of a few, but a shared responsibility of the whole community,” he said.
Also present was Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat