OCBC and Rotary kicks off Jom Senam Johor fund-raiser with RM50,000 contribution for hospital patients
More than 500 people had gathered at the Ponderosa Golf and Country Club at Taman Molek, Johor Bahru for the inaugural Jom Senam Johor to help raise funds for under-privileged children undergoing treatment at the paediatric ward in Hospital Sultan Ismail and patients from low income families seeking treatment at Hospital Sultanah Aminah.
The one-and-a-half-hour fitness workout and carnival was organised by the Rotary Club of Johor Straits View and Rotary Club of Johor Centennial in partnership with four of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad’s branches located in Johor Bahru, Taman Molek, Skudai and Kulai.
Participants paid RM60 each as their personal contribution to the cause.
OCBC Bank kicked off the charity drive with a contribution of RM50,000 to Rotary Club of Johor Straits View and Rotary Club of Johor Centennial to purchase medical support equipment namely oxygen concentrators, suction machines and standard wheelchairs for their signature projects. The projects involve collaborating with the Hospitals’ welfare units (Jabatan Kerja Sosial Perubatan) in their efforts to identify and aid the most deserving patients from low income families.
Speaking at the event, Rotary Club of Johor Straits View President Steven Wu said the response of the community in support of the initiative has been encouraging.
“We are always looking at ways to assist our community and this time we found an increasing number of needy children and patients undergoing treatment at the Hospital Sultan Ismail and Hospital Sultanah Aminah who needed financial assistance and better access to treatment. Apart from helping to raise funds, today’s fitness workout session also helped us fulfil our on-going goal to promote a higher level of fitness in our community,” he said.
The total amount raised will also be used to subsidise expenses such as transportation, monthly supply of therapeutic milk and specialised medical support equipment for patients to use at home.
At the event, members of the two Rotary Clubs and staff of OCBC Bank joined all participants including children in group Zumba sessions to make it a fun-filled day for everyone.
Both Rotary Clubs acknowledged with gratitude OCBC Bank’s sponsorship, which helped meet the objectives of the initiative, saying they were looking forward to future cooperation with OCBC Bank to ease part of the financial burden faced by the patients in the community.
Speaking on behalf of OCBC Bank its Johor Bahru branch Senior Manager Fiona Gan Huei Chin said the Bank continues to strive to be more involved in the localities in which it operates and to become even more engaged in the community, going beyond simply providing superior banking products and services to meeting the social needs of the people as well.
“As a close and long-standing member of the Johor community, we are pleased that four of our branches located in the vicinity could come together and join forces to be part of this community initiative for the needy children at these pediatric wards. OCBC Bank’s CSR efforts revolve round the community – so this initiative is very much a part of our ongoing effort to improve the lot of the family and elderly as well,” she said.
