Reaching the peak to give hope

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CONQUERING the tallest mountain in South-East Asia could not have been sweeter for 40 people who made it to the peak recently.

For, they raised RM100,000 for the Shelter Home for Children (Shelter).

“The climb was memorable because every one was willing to help each other.

“It felt so rewarding to make it because we did it as a family,” first-time climber Wong Lee Choo said, adding that she believed that all refugee children deserved a chance for a brighter future.

Jubilant: The climbers at the peak of Mount Kinabalu.

Echoing her sentiment was another first-time climber and fundraising advocate, Carolyn Loo Su-Vern.

“We are proud to have lent a hand to such a good cause. The climb gave us an opportunity to be the voice of the refugee children,” Loo said.

Meanwhile, reaching the summit of 4,095m above sea level was a serene and satisfying experience for climber Chong Yee Thean.

“The scenery was spectacular and the experience made more special as the quest was to help refugee children,” Chong said.

The charity climb was organised by Shelter to raise funds for its community work among refugee children in Malaysia.

“The response we received from the public was overwhelming. In fact, we had to turn away many as we could accept only 40 climbers due to logistics,” Shelter Home for Children executive director James Nagayam said.

He added that Shelter was planning another climb so that those who could not take part in the recent climb could do so in the near future.

“It is so touching to see so many Malaysians coming forward to support our cause despite the current economic situation.

“The money raised will go a long way in providing education, healthcare and protection for the children,” he said.

Shelter was established in 1981 and has since grown into four homes for abused, neglected and abandoned children that are supported by donations from the public and monitored by Horwath International.