KUCHING: Staff of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) raised funds to assist Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) to purchase medical equipment to benefit cancer patients under its care.

Torstein presenting the mock cheque to Ho in the presence of other SEB staff and SCCS representatives.

Through an internal drive, launched by SEB CEO Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit in July, the team managed to pool together a substantial amount of donation.

This was later topped up by the company to a total of RM300,000.

The money will go towards purchasing a number of costly medical equipment urgently needed by SCCS including fluid manager, Philips Intellivue Mx600 monitor, Styler bed, Philip oxygen concentrator, transport trolley-stryker and homecare equipment among others, according to a SEB press statement yesterday.

SEB handed over the cheque to SCCS in a simple ceremony at Menara Sarawak Energy yesterday.

A delegation from SCCS led by its vice-president Gary Ho received the donation.

The internal initiative mooted by Torstein during the Sarawak Energy Leadership Conference was driven by the staff themselves after witnessing the testimonies of members of SCCS including fellow colleague. Abang Abdul Raini, whose son was diagnosed with cancer in 2009.

SCCS was set up for the relief and care of Malaysian children suffering from cancer as well as their families irrespective of race, religion and creed by providing support, accommodation, financial aid, education and recreation.

It supports the advancement of research and education in the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.

It was learnt that some 70 cancer cases among children are detected every year in the state and SCCS had assisted more than 700 families since it was registered in 2001.

Torstein commended the selfless initiative of his team to improve the facilities at SCCS.

“It is a noble effort on the part of my team to contribute to a worthwhile cause. I have said it before that in our pursuit to spearhead Sarawak’s development through our business of generating energy; we must not lose sight of our values to care for another.

“The ability to empathise will keep us grounded and ask ourselves the question ‘Do we care enough?” he said.
Torstein said this desire of wanting to help another should be embedded as part of the company’s culture.

Meanwhile, Ho was appreciative of SEB staff assisting society, not just financially, but showing concern and helping spread awareness of the cause.

He said this was the biggest single donation SCCS had ever received from a company.

“When it comes to childhood cancer, we feel that it doesn’t relate to us when in actual fact, cancer affects us in one way or another. We all know somebody who has or is battling with the illness. I congratulate the Sarawak Energy team for raising a significant amount to help us provide better assistance and support to the families of cancer stricken children in the state. We call on all corporate bodies in Sarawak to emulate the compassion and generosity of the SEB management and staff,” he added.