Story & pix by Danny Ooi
HUNDREDS of cancer survivors, their friends and supporters came together to join the Relay For Life 2016 event held at the Youth Park on July 23.
Exco for Agriculture, Agro-Based Industries, Rural Development and Health Dr Afif Bahardin launched the event with Pulau Tikus
assemblymember Yap Soo Huey and vice chairman of National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch, Datuk Seri Dr T. Deveraj.
The event which started around 6pm continued through noon of July 24.
Dr Afif in addressing the crowd congratulated the National Cancer Society on the 12th anniversary of the relay in Penang.
“The spirit of the relay is one of hope.
Relay for Life is about saying that we can do something about cancer, we can change things; we can and should and will fight back
against cancer.
“So we are here because we are determined to fight cancer together as a community,” he said.
He added that by coming together at an event like this, by helping to spread the key messages about cancer, and with the wonderful example of all our cancer survivors and their carers, we can break the fear and the silence that surrounds cancer.
Dr Afif said one in six Penangites is at risk of getting cancer in their life time.
It is crucial that the key message is brought to all Penangites.
Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer. Proper treatment is essential.
“If we detect cancers at stage one or two, instead of leaving them till they are at stage
three or four, and go for proper treatment, our lives can be saved,” he said.
Commenting further, he urged more Penangites to join in this campaign, to join Relay
For Life, to help fight cancer and build our resilience as a caring and empowered society.
The Relay For Life 2016 event raised some RM150, 000.00 for the National Cancer Society.