Charity Dinner July 29, 2007

M E T R O
Central
Friday July 27, 2007


Disabled guests get welcome break from daily routine

By WANI MUTHIAH

WHEELCHAIR-BOUND K. Samiamal hardly goes out these days as her husband S. Selvarajah has been hospitalised for a kidney ailment.

Selvarajah, who is a paraplegic, used to take Samiamal out regularly as he drives a modified van for the disabled.

“My husband has been in hospital for the last two months and I have literally been living there as I have to take care of him,” she said.


Thrilled: Samiamal appreciates Petpositive's generosity that gives her a chance to take a muchneeded break.
So when Samiamal was invited to attend non-profit NGO Petpositive’s (Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association's) charity dinner as a VIP guest, she was thrilled to bits.

“It is a welcome offer as it would allow me to take a break from my current routine and forget my troubles for a while,” she said.

The charity dinner will be held on Sunday at the Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Samiamal said she was happy that many disabled people had been invited to attend the function, as it would give them a well-deserved break.

“Some disabled people don’t even have a chance to go out once in a while,” she said.

Retiree M.K. Baskaran, who is blind, concurred and said some of the disabled could not afford to attend such events.

“So, it is good of the Petpositive people to think of us and include us in their charity dinner,” he said.

Generous donors who bought tables for the disabled have made it possible for people like Samiamal and Baskaran to attend the charity dinner.

Although most of the donors are corporate organisations, some individuals have also come forward to purchase tables for disabled guests.

Dog lover and Petpositive supporter Kay Wong paid for five disabled people to attend the charity dinner.

When contacted, Wong said she sponsored the seats because she believed in Petpositive’s goals and aspirations.

“The organisation is using animals to offer therapy and I can vouch for the efficacy of this method as I know for a fact that dogs can boost one’s morale with their unconditional love,” she said.

Wong added that she also knew a large number of the disabled were confined to their homes most of the time.

“I wanted to contribute towards giving them a well-deserved outing,” said Wong.

Those wanting to sponsor members of the disabled community for Petpositive’s charity dinner can do so by calling the association’s president, Anthony Thanasayan, at 012-220 3146 for details.


Copyright © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Managed by I.Star.