KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Sports Board (SSB) is not just about sports but also about helping the community which is one of its six pillars, said its Chairman Dr KH Tan.
“That was why when the President of the Sabah Cancer Volunteers Association (PSKS), Encik Lawrence Imui came to see me 2 weeks ago, I did not hesitate to sponsor the venue for their event,” he added, referring to the Charity Party for PSKS at the Likas Sports Complex on Sunday.
He stated that LSS has 16 Sports Complexes throughout the State and if it involves the community or charity, we may help, not just cancer but also other charitable bodies.
The Charity Party was in aid of PSKS which aims to have a half-way-house or shelter for outstation cancer patients who come to Kota Kinabalu for treatment or review.
“Cancer is a matter close to my heart as over the years I have lost lost a few friends and family members to it,” Dr Tan quipped.
The Party was a 2-hour non-stop fitness event (mostly aerobics or zumba) spearheaded by Sabah’s Fitness Queen, Michelle Koh of Fuze Fitness.
Each participant was required to pay RM40 or $350 for a group of 10. Proceeds from the event will go to PSKS. More than 300 fitness fiends and in and around Kota Kinabalu sweated it out in the Indoor Stadium of the Complex for 2 hours.
During the interval, the participants were also entertained to a Karate demonstration by Michelle’s students from her studio in Damai. Michelle shot to fame 2-3 decades ago when she won the SEA Games Gold Medal for Karate, against all odds.
Incidentally, Dr KH Tan was her fitness instructor in preparing for the SEA Games then. “If you win Michelle, I will jump into the pool to celebrate, Michelle recalled Dr Tan saying.
Meanwhile, PSKS president Lawrence Imui, apart from thanking Dr Tan for sponsoring he venue, also thanked Michelle. “Without her, this event would not have taken place to begin with,” he quipped.
Michelle said she did not mind to help if it’s charity.
Also in attendance was NGO leader Datuk Aminah Ambrose, herself a breast cancer survivor. She was invited to share her experience as an encouragement to the fitness fiends, some of whom are cancer sufferers or survivors themselves.-pr/BNN
