A total of RM30,500 was raised for the PJ Club’s “Tennis for the Underprivileged Children” programme.
PJ Club had initiated the programme for children from two homes — Assunta Children Society and the Lighthouse Children Home Association — and training is held on weekends.
The club also organised an inter-club tennis championship recently to raise funds to support the programme.
Six teams — Lake View, PJ Club, PKNS, Sg Ujong Club, Royal Selangor Club (RSC) and HSBC — took part in the championship.
A success: The participants of the PJ Club’s ‘Tennis for Underprivileged Children’ programme with their sports equipment. Lake View emerged champions and received RM2,000. However the generous players decided to donate half of the prize money to PJ Club’s programme.
PJ Club tennis convenor Gopi Pillay said their initial target was to raise about RM20,000 but donations was overwhelming.
“It was a pleasant surprise and something which we had not expected. We are grateful to the donors who had supported us. We would like to assure the donors that the funds will be used for the programme. The programme is not about grooming champions but creating opportunities for the less fortunate to be involved in a sporting activity,’’ said Gopi.
Former HSBC employee C. Chandrasekaran, a certified coach, heads the coaching stable. Several volunteers, including Gopi and programme chairman A. Asokumar, help out during training. The children, aged five to 18, looked forward to the three-hour training sessions.
Former hockey international K. Balasingam, who also spends time with the children, said he was happy to be part of the programme.
“We have an excellent team of volunteers committed towards the programme. We want to bring some joy to the children. It will be rewarding to our efforts if some of them can progress in tennis,’’ said Balasingam.
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