Max
07-24-2002, 10:11 AM
Touching the lives of the disabled through charity
KUALA LUMPUR: Spinal cord injury is unlike other disabilities - you may have the use of your two feet today but be wheelchair-bound the next day due to an accident or an infection which causes a lesion anywhere along your spine.
The growing number of young people who succumb to partial or total paralysis prompted the setting up of the Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association eight years ago in 1994.
GUTSY...despite becoming paralysed 12 years ago when pursuing her second year of a physical education degree, Yuhanis is still upbeat about life.
The association is mainly a support group that helps to rehabilitate new patients physically, emotionally and psychologically.
"People who are active one day and, after an accident or illness suddenly find themselves without the use of their limbs, need a lot of moral support," said association president Yuhanis Adnan, 34, who is a sports psychology lecturer at the Universiti Malaya.
Despite becoming paralysed 12 years ago when pursuing her second year of a physical education degree, she is still upbeat about life.
Yuhanis said it was important when one becomes paralysed to prepare oneself psychologically, to understand that life is not over and that the loss of ability could bring out a hidden potential in them.
"I can't really say that they should accept what has happened to them but rather than sink into a depression or self-denial, it is better for them to accept reality," she said.
The association has its office in Balakong which doubles up as a halfway house and rehabilitation centre for new members and patients.
The association is one of the beneficiaries of the charity gala premiere of the movie The Touch, which is jointly presented by The Star and HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd.
The other beneficiaries are the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and the Malaysian Diabetes Association.
The Malaysian Diabetes Association is hoping to reach more diabetic people in an effort to improve their knowledge of their condition and how to live with it.
Professor S.T. Chan of the Medical Faculty of Universiti Malaya, who is president of the association, said the society had more than 28,000 members nationwide.
The charity premiere at the Golden Screen Cinemas, Mid-Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm on July 30 is under the patronage of Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
The Touch features Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Peter Pau and Brandon Chang who would be present at a greet-the-fans session at 7.30pm on the night at the Megamall's Centre Court.
Tickets will be issued for a minimum RM100 donation. For more information, please call 03-7967 1243.
For those hoping to win free premiere tickets, a HSBC RM1,000 Power Vantage account and premiums, and other gifts, visit http://star-ecentral.com/contests/thetouch/
KUALA LUMPUR: Spinal cord injury is unlike other disabilities - you may have the use of your two feet today but be wheelchair-bound the next day due to an accident or an infection which causes a lesion anywhere along your spine.
The growing number of young people who succumb to partial or total paralysis prompted the setting up of the Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association eight years ago in 1994.
GUTSY...despite becoming paralysed 12 years ago when pursuing her second year of a physical education degree, Yuhanis is still upbeat about life.
The association is mainly a support group that helps to rehabilitate new patients physically, emotionally and psychologically.
"People who are active one day and, after an accident or illness suddenly find themselves without the use of their limbs, need a lot of moral support," said association president Yuhanis Adnan, 34, who is a sports psychology lecturer at the Universiti Malaya.
Despite becoming paralysed 12 years ago when pursuing her second year of a physical education degree, she is still upbeat about life.
Yuhanis said it was important when one becomes paralysed to prepare oneself psychologically, to understand that life is not over and that the loss of ability could bring out a hidden potential in them.
"I can't really say that they should accept what has happened to them but rather than sink into a depression or self-denial, it is better for them to accept reality," she said.
The association has its office in Balakong which doubles up as a halfway house and rehabilitation centre for new members and patients.
The association is one of the beneficiaries of the charity gala premiere of the movie The Touch, which is jointly presented by The Star and HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd.
The other beneficiaries are the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and the Malaysian Diabetes Association.
The Malaysian Diabetes Association is hoping to reach more diabetic people in an effort to improve their knowledge of their condition and how to live with it.
Professor S.T. Chan of the Medical Faculty of Universiti Malaya, who is president of the association, said the society had more than 28,000 members nationwide.
The charity premiere at the Golden Screen Cinemas, Mid-Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm on July 30 is under the patronage of Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
The Touch features Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Peter Pau and Brandon Chang who would be present at a greet-the-fans session at 7.30pm on the night at the Megamall's Centre Court.
Tickets will be issued for a minimum RM100 donation. For more information, please call 03-7967 1243.
For those hoping to win free premiere tickets, a HSBC RM1,000 Power Vantage account and premiums, and other gifts, visit http://star-ecentral.com/contests/thetouch/