KOTA KINABALU: Lions Clubs donated a total of RM6,000 to Sabah Thalassaemia Society, Jireh Home and Partners of Community Organisations in Sabah (PACOS Trust) here yesterday.
Sabah Thalassaemia Society received RM2,400, while Jireh Home and PACOS Trust received RM1,800 each.
Lions District Governor 308-A2 Region 5 chairperson Tan Siaw Chuan said the funds were raised through sponsorships of the World Lions Service Day and sale of doughnuts.
He said this is the second year that 13 Lions Clubs in Region 5 and 6 jointly organized the World Lions Service Day with IEC-MIDAS.
The event, held on October 6, included health checkups and health talks by the Sabah Health Department, as well as the doughnut decoration contest.
The function was graced by District Governor 308-A2 (Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei) Datuk Betty Wong Yieng.
Some 40 participants from Sabah Thalassaemia Society, Jireh Home, Sabah Cheshire Home, Leo clubs members, Lions Clubs members and Stairway to Hope took part in the contest.
“The contest gave a platform for participants to explore and develop their living skills,” he said.
Besides that, Kota Kinabalu Lions Ambulance Service Society (LASS) also held demonstrations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the event.
Meanwhile, organising chairman Dr Andrew Sim hoped that the donations would benefit the three welfare organizations.
He also hoped that more people could reach out and help underprivileged individuals in society.
Also present were Anne Lasimbang from PACOS Trust, Sabah Thalassaemia Society president Francis Mujim, as well as Datin Dr Molly Mathew and Repieh Balang from Jireh Home.
Anne said the fund would be used to set up a small library at Kampung Alab Lanas community learning centre in Sook.
She said PACOS has 22 community learning centres in rural areas in Sabah.
Francis, on the other hand, said the donation would be used to fund its programmes and awareness campaigns of Sabah Thalassaemia Society.