Petaling Jaya, 9 August, 2016 – A record 600 cancer survivors celebrated their victory at Kuala Lumpur’s biggest cancer fundraising and awareness event.
At the annual Relay for Life (RFL) Kuala Lumpur held by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), survivors who walked the first ever lap at the event 10 years ago continued their tradition on 6 and 7 August this year.
Apart from reaching the tenth year anniversary, which was opened by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, RFL KL also marks the highest number of survivors at the event so far.
“Relay for Life is about honouring survivors,” says Dato’ Zuraidah Atan, Chairperson of Relay for Life Malaysia. “However, some of them were reluctant to come forward at the first few years of the event – they didn’t want people to look at them differently.
“But more and more of them have been showing up since then, and having a record breaking number this year is an amazing celebration of our tenth anniversary. It indicates that people are less ashamed of the disease, and as NCSM has been working for decades to help reduce the stigma of cancer, this is great news.”
A global event joined by over 4 million people, RFL invites families, friends, groups, coworkers and classmates to team up and walk around the running track. The overnight celebration that runs for 16 hours in Kuala Lumpur hosts campsites, live performances, on-stage exercises or Zumbathons, carnival style games as well as awareness activities.
Another signature activity is the Lumanaria ceremony, in which participants gather and remember loved ones who have lost to cancer, honour those who fought, and support those still fighting.
Survivor Betty Gomes, who has been actively involved since the first RFL, says that the ceremony – along with the survivors’ lap – remains the most meaningful activity to her.
“We see Lumanaria bags with inspiring messages and drawings, and they are placed around the Relay track,” Betty says. “It’s an amazing sight when the candles inside them are lit – you just have to be there to feel its significance.”
Betty recalls sitting at a table, making call after call to recruit participants for the first Relay, and is amazed by how the event has grown through the years.
“Tears were running down our faces when we walked the first lap at RFL KL 10 years ago, and it is still very emotional for all of us,” she says. “We have lost many friends and gained many new ones through the years, and you can see how participants who were once new grow and move on to help other survivors.
“Mourning and honouring friends lost are only one part of RFL – we also make sure to have a grand time, and did so at the 10-year anniversary this year. Our ‘day out’ at RFL is exactly how we go through life as survivors – laughing, growing and grieving together.”
“We thank participants, sponsors and fundraisers who have been with us all these years,” Dato’ Zuraidah adds. “The 37,000 people who have joined us over the last 10 years have made a great impact – I hope they are able to see the difference they have made.”
NCSM is especially grateful to its sponsors Bridgestone, Astro, Vitahealth, Idifynetz, Accenture, Oriental Metal Industries, Brother International, Tune Protect, Credit Guarantee Corporation, Magnum, Magnum Cares and Spritzer.
