Kota Kinabalu: The Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu City, a women-only service organisation, will celebrate its 36th anniversary cum charity dinner on 28 February 2025 at the Magellan Sutera Resort here, starting at 6.30pm.
This event underscores 36 years of unwavering commitment to serving the underprivileged and underserved, said Organising Chairperson Rizawani Fiona Heng during a press luncheon.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});In conjunction with the anniversary, she said the club has successfully raised funds to support five key signature projects, all aimed at improving healthcare access and empowering women in need.
These include a medical camp to be carried out in five rural villages in March.
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Additionally, RM9,000 was raised to successfully implement the empowering single mothers’ programme—offering sewing classes and sewing machines to 10 single mothers, equipping them with skills to achieve financial independence, she said.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});For the Smile Project, she said the club raised RM5,000 to subsidise the travel expenses of underprivileged patients from rural areas seeking cleft palate and lip surgeries at Likas Women and Children’s Hospital.
For desferal and blood warmer machines, the club raised RM19,000 to provide essential equipment for thalassaemia patients, including desferal infusion pumps for home use and blood warmers for transfusions.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Regular blood transfusions are a critical part of thalassaemia major treatment, but excess iron buildup can damage vital organs. Desferal helps remove excess iron, preventing serious complications,” said Rizawani.
For the vision aid initiative, she said RM9,000 was secured to provide lenses for financially challenged patients undergoing cataract surgery.
“Cataracts cause blurred vision and, if untreated, can lead to blindness. Many underprivileged patients cannot afford intraocular lenses, which are crucial for restoring clear vision after cataract removal,” she said.
By providing these lenses, the club helps restore sight and improve the quality of life for those in need, she added. The club also expressed appreciation to three key project partners, each of whom generously contributed RM10,000.
They are Xin Synergy Group Berhad, Bina Puri Holding Berhad, and Azam Jaya Berhad, which have continuously supported the club’s causes.
“Their sponsorship has been instrumental in funding these life-changing initiatives. “Appreciation is also extended to all patrons and donors attending the event,” she said.
President of the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu City, Renus Lim, said: “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to our mission of service. “We sincerely hope more private corporations and agencies will step forward to support our cause and uplift the lives of the underprivileged.”
Also present were Organising Secretary Betty Eber, Shirley Kwan, Past President Rekha Notaney, President-Elect Debbie Chin, and representatives from Bina Puri and Azam Jaya, Christy Lim and VK Lai.
