Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Association of Paediatric Palliative Care (Mappac) and Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu City have teamed up to launch the BuddyBear Companion Project to bring comfort, hope and awareness to children with serious illnesses.
A MoU was signed here, recently, with the Lions Club sponsoring the first 100 BuddyBear kits and supporting the launch and adoption campaign. Each kit includes a soft plush bear, wellness tools, personalised messages and other comfort items, while donors adopting a BuddyBear will also receive a small token of appreciation.
The project is aimed at three goals: providing therapeutic comfort, creating public awareness on paediatric palliative care, and raising funds for Malaysia’s first Children’s Hospice in the city.
“Every BuddyBear carries more than a smile, it carries a message of care and comfort to children who need it most.
“This collaboration is an important step in sustaining the work of Malaysia’s children’s hospice,” said the Malaysian Children’s Hospice President Dr Ng Su Fang.
Lions Club President Debbie Chin said the project instantly resonated with the club’s mission.
“Our love for children drives us to act quickly when we see a chance to bring comfort and hope. By sponsoring the first 100 kits, we want to set the foundation for a wider movement of care in our community,” she said.
Funds raised through the BuddyBear adoption campaign will go towards the operating costs of the hospice, ensuring that children and families continue to receive holistic and dignified care.
Mappac welcomed more partnerships through sponsorships, in-kind support or campaigns to expand the project beyond its initial 100 kits.
“Each BuddyBear is more than a toy. It is a companion of hope, a messenger of love, and a symbol of community care,” Mappac said.
