Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

Kota Kinabalu: The SEPEDA Amal Borneo 2025 (SAB2025) charity cycling event, themed “Pedal for Care, Ride for Hope”, concluded at Hilton Hotel Kota Kinabalu as 17 cyclists completed a grueling 600-kilometre journey from Sandakan. 

The six-day ride aimed to raise funds and awareness for the establishment of Sabah’s first children’s hospice, under the care of the Malaysian Association of Paediatric Palliative Care (Mappac).

The event successfully raised RM350,000, would help to finance the centre with various medical equipment and other facilities.

Officiating the closing ceremony, Datuk James Ratib, Minister of Community Development and People’s Well-being, praised the cyclists for their dedication and resilience.

“This ride is not just about endurance, it’s about compassion and hope. 

You’ve helped shine a light on paediatric palliative care, a field that is often overlooked but essential to a holistic healthcare system,” he said.

Currently, Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas is the only facility offering paediatric palliative care in the state. The hospital has seen a steady rise in patient referrals, highlighting the urgent need for expanded services.

Ratib urged the Ministry of Health to train more doctors and nurses in this specialty and called for stronger collaboration between the state government and relevant agencies to establish the hospice.

He acknowledged the pressing gaps in both infrastructure and medical support across the state, particularly in paediatric care. 

Citing the surge in developmental and neurological conditions among children, Ratib drew attention to the rising number of autism cases in Sabah with over 5,200 diagnoses recorded as of 2024.

Following a recent visit to a specialised autism centre hospital in Singapore, he gained invaluable insights into advanced care models and facility standards.

Moved by the experience, he pursued the urgent need for similar, comprehensive support services in Sabah, not only for children with autism, but also for those battling life-threatening illnesses who deserve holistic and compassionate care.

As part of his role in the health unit (health exco), he pledged to bring the matter to the state cabinet, proposing the allocation of land and funding for the construction of Sabah’s first children’s hospice in near future. 

“I will propose to the Cabinet to allocate land for the hospice centre, and also to fund through the state government. Our children deserve to be cared for in the right place, with dignity and love,” he added.

He affirmed that it is the government’s responsibility to meet the healthcare needs of its people, especially vulnerable children.

“This isn’t merely a proposal, it’s a pressing need.

It’s our responsibility to ensure that children facing life-threatening illnesses are cared for in a place that offers love, compassion, and proper support.

Our children deserve to receive care in a proper facility that upholds their dignity, provides comfort, and offers specialised medical support tailored to their needs,” he said.

This year’s proceeds will support Malaysian Children’s Hospice (MCH) Kota Kinabalu, enabling them to provide free paediatric palliative care services, including home visits, pain management, psychosocial support, and family accompaniment programmes, ensuring that no child with life-limiting conditions faces their journey alone.

Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang, the chairman of MMA Sabah said fundraising efforts would continue and he hoped more individuals would come forward to support the cause. 

Among the cyclists was Lee Lee from Kuala Lumpur, a cancer survivor who completed the ride with determination, driven by the hope of seeing the children’s hospice become a reality.