24 October 2003
One Sen Coins Mean A Lot To Cancer Patients

Shah Alam, Thurs. - A one sen coin virtually means nothing to most of us and is normally left unused, but such a coin can go a long way in saving the lives of cancer patients.

During a recent campaign, the National Cancer Council (Makna), collected 22 million one sen coins to show that even the littlest of things could mean a lot in providing treatment to cancer patients.

Makna president Datuk Farid Ariffin said today that it took three months to collect the coins.

Farid, a former Deputy Finance Minister who founded Makna in 1995, said he had been told that some 100 million one sen coins were in circulation in the country.

"These coind are unused and uncared for, but they can help pay for the treatment of cancer patients and save their lives," he said at the launch of the Telekanser 2003 charity drive using the short messaging service (SMS) by Channel 9, Malaysia's television station.

Farid said Makna, which he founded with only RM5,000 in its kitty, had since raised millions from public donations and provided treatment to more than 7,000 cancer patients nationwide.

The Telekanser charity drive, which is on until the end of the year, will contribute 30 sen from every SMS sent to Makna.

Mobile phone users can donate by typing out Makna and sending it to 32202.

Source by: Bernama, October 24, 2003