MAKNA
MAKNA
(Majlis Kanser Nasional / National Cancer Council) was founded by Dato’Mohd
Farid Ariffin.
MAKNA was
officially launched on 30 March 1995 was registered as a society on 10 November
1994.
MAKNA is
a not-for-profit social enterprise mainly tasked to pool and utilise every
effort, expertise and financial aid from every faction of society, and to fight
cancer and reduce the related pain, suffering and morbidity that cancer
patients and their families often experience.
THE FOUNDER
Dato' Mohd Farid Arifin has vast
management, organisational and entrepreneurship experience , having served as a
teacher, lecturer and lawyer and later as Deputy Finance Minister (1987 – 1989)
and Deputy Health Minister (1989 – 1995).
MAKNA was set up from his own family experience, and today it is a
home-grown organisation fully focused on cancer.
His
teenage son Farul Rafiq was 17 when diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer) in
1992. Farul was flown to London, England
(Hammersmith Hospital) for treatment.
There, he underwent a regimented treatment which included an autologous
bone marrow transplant, which was not yet available in Malaysia. A few years into battling the diseases, he
was finally certified cancer-free.
While
recuperating at the hospital in London, Dato’ Mohd Farid’s family made a
promise that on their return to Malaysia, they would set up a cancer
organisation aimed to help those from lower income groups gain access to cancer
treatment.
On 4 August
2011, we sadly lost Farul, he passed away owing to lung fibrosis (not to
cancer).
THE RUN
This
run, which not only celebrates MAKNA’s existence, will also be a way of
sourcing for funds to aid our main cause being assisting financially challenged
cancer patients and their families.
Cancer
Can Be Prevented when detected early, which means more of these lives being
helped by MAKNA, can be saved if they receive financial support in time through
donation commitments by
kind-hearted souls. Funds raised will ensure uninterrupted supply of
financial assistance, surgical equipment, liquid food, prostheses, and
prescribed drugs for poor cancer patients and also provide young cancer
survivors with educational scholarship.
While
promoting an active lifestyle, fitness and celebrating health, this run will
also heighten cancer awareness bringing much needed attention to this prevalent
illness. Coming together, we strengthen
the tie between survivors, their families and the community. A step taken today paves the path for
tomorrow.
All
in all, it will be a fun-filled day, advocating fitness while raising funds for
a very worthy cause.
Come
Run the Miles, Fund the Smiles!
MAKNA Founder’s Run – Talking Point
- MAKNA was set up based
on own family experience when Farul Rafiq fell ill in 1992
- MAKNA is in its 19th
years of operation now. We got MAKNA registered in November 1994 and officially
launched it on 30 March 1995.
- What was a promise
became a reality and now we are nurturing our efforts in realising our mission
in providing the much needed access to poor patients in every possible ways.
- We look forward to all
Malaysians coming together in standing up to cancer.
- Farul is no longer with
us now, but he was the inspiration behind MAKNA, this legacy which started
because of Farul shall live. This shall
continue in helping poor patients and their families in our country.
- The Founder’s run
signifies the support given by our donors and Malaysia in general. Day by day, our efforts are becoming recognisable
and sort after.
- Today we are proud that
we have gained the support from 88 government hospitals throughout
Malaysia. This has abled us to reach
almost 5,000 patients a year.
- And, this could not be
possible without the untiring support we receive monthly from individual
donors.
- Our major achievement
is the Mammogramme Mobile Unit that travels throughout Malaysia in providing cost
effective mammogramme screening or no cost when applicable. The unit features advance digital
mammography. Hopefully we are able to
help detect breast cancer early and bring down the incidence rate and increase
survival rate.
- We have set out of
Malaysia in our efforts of expanding our horizons in International platforms
where we can advance to build expertise, and leverage resources across nations
to address the global burden of cancer.
- Come and run together
with us, be a charity athelete and march for cancer. Your participation gives someone a meaning to
life. Every mile you conquer and dollar
raised will give our cancer patients hope for tomorrow.