WHILE many are complaining about the sweltering heat from the sun, 60-year-old Pastor Cheah Chee Moon would be pulling his rickshaw some 50km a day from Penang to Kuala Lumpur to raise funds for two charitable organisations.
The distance from the Caring Society Complex in Penang to Dual Blessing Centre in Jalan Hujan Emas, Kuala Lumpur is about 400km and it would take Cheah nine days to complete his journey of love.
Penang-born Cheah has decided to again travel with his loyal ‘partner’, a 65kg rickshaw, after journeying 3,000km together from Johor Baru to Chiang Rai, Thailand last year to raise funds for five orphanages in Malaysia and Thailand.
This latest event, themed ‘Journey of Love – Rickshaw Charity Ride’, was aimed at raising RM1 million, to be shared equally by both Eden Handicap Service Centre (Penang) and Dual Blessing Bhd.
The fund-raising duration has started from May 1 to Aug 1.
“I hope to be able to raise some funds for the two charitable organisations to help the underprivileged and disabled.
“Besides that, I also hope to encourage the children to be charitable.
“Donate some spare change – 20sen, 50sen or even RM1. You will be surprise with the impact of fund raising powered by small donors,” Cheah said before starting his journey, at Caring Society Complex today.
He added that the heat from the sun, especially during noon, could be unforgiving.
“Temperature can climb over 40 degrees Celsius. Not everyone can do this challenge, unless you have the mental strength.
“I hope that people will donate generously to these organisations through this fund raising event. They really need our help,” he said.
He said that he would be taking on another challenge later this year, pulling his rickshaw for 1,800km from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu.
“The next fund raising event is to help build a hospital in one of the small districts in East Malaysia,” he said, smiling.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow praised Cheah’s efforts in helping the needy.
“This is a remarkable and meaningful event, filled with much love.
“I hope that the media coverage will spur people to contribute generously to this noble and worthy cause.
“I have earlier pledged a contribution of RM10,000 but today I wish to top up a bit more – another RM10,000 to contribute to the success of this charitable event,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
For those who are interested to contribute to this event can issue a cheque made payable to Eden Handicap Service Centre Berhad (Bank account number: CIMB 8003857542) and indicate ‘Rickshaw’ on the back of the cheque.
If the contribution is made via online, please indicate ‘Rickshaw’ for the reason of donation.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Chan Kok Kuan