PINK VROOM CHARITY RIDE FOR BREAST CANCER

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG,

YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

AT PINK VROOM CHARITY RIDE FOR

BREAST CANCER

 

16TH OCTOBER 2022

GURNEY PLAZA

YB Teh Lai Heng

State Assemblyman for Komtar

YB Lim Siew Khim

State Assemblyman for Sungai Pinang

Mr Albin Phua

Chief Financial Officer of Penang Adventist Hospital

Mr. Kheoh Hock Seng

Director of GB Motorcycles, Leader of Harley Davidson of Penang, Ducati Penang, Royal Enfield Penang, Motorplex Butterworth, Sheng Fatt Motor Sdn. Bhd

Distinguished Guests

Generous Donors

Supporters & Partners

Members of the press

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening.

First and foremost, thank you for having me here this evening to commemorate the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to honour those fighting breast cancer across the country. More importantly, we are here to deliver an important message to the public.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Penang Adventist Hospital is synonymous with Health Promoting Hospital, and as the Chief Minister of Penang, I am extremely proud of your accomplishment and years of selfless service to our community.

Today's Pink Vroom Charity Ride for Breast Cancer is yet another example of your commitment and hard work. Penang Adventist Hospital, as a health-promoting hospital, understands that prevention is better than cure, as there is much more to do than simply treating illness. Your efforts to promote healthy living by organizing various health campaigns and events throughout the year, such as this and many others, should be emulated.

Today, we are witnessing our stand in solidarity, not just as individuals, but also as a society, in support of all those who are touched by breast cancer.

Breast cancer does not discriminate, it strikes people of all races, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds. To make matters worse, it is commonly referred to as the ‘silent killer’ as it often goes unnoticed by patients until it is very advanced. One factor that has consistently been linked to late diagnosis and treatment is a delay in seeking help for cancer-like symptoms due to a lack of public awareness. As a result, it is critical for us to raise awareness of this disease and its symptoms, so that it can be identified in its early stages and treated more effectively.

I am pleased that during this afternoon's ride, the superbike riders will relay the message in the form of breast cancer awareness brochures to the Penang community through various service centres of the State Assemblymen, informing them of the dangers that breast cancer poses and the importance of getting this illness diagnosed as early as possible.

Regular screenings and quality care are vital to improving outcomes of breast cancer, and the Penang state has been actively offering mammograms for women in Penang since 2019 at no charge. I was made to understand that Penang Adventist Hospital, through their donors, is also offering free mammogram to underprivileged women in our community. 

As a mission hospital, I applaud your efforts in raising funds and reaching out to the needy in our community by providing them with high-quality medical treatment regardless of race, religion, or creed. I was told that your medical expenses amounted to RM3.2 million last year.

This remarkable result can only be achieved with the community's confidence in Penang Adventist Hospital's charitable work, and I encourage all Penangites, corporate organisations, and philanthropists to continue donating to this worthy cause. Assist Penang Adventist Hospital in assisting the needy in our community, in accordance with the state's Penang2030 vision of becoming ‘A        Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the dedicated staff of Penang Adventist Hospital, as well as each and every one of you, for your efforts in making Penang a healthier community.

Once again, thank you for having me this afternoon, and I wish the Pink Vroom Charity Ride every success.

Thank you.