Golf tourney raises funds for sensory rooms

By FAIRUZ MOHD SHAHAR | streets@nstp.com.my

MAKING SENSE: Ronald McDonald House Charities collected RM200,000 to purchase and maintain equipment for children with learning disabilities

AMPANG : RONALD McDonald House Charities (RMHC) recently raised RM200,000 from sponsors and participants of the RMHC-Tropicana Charity Golf Championship for Ronald McDonald sensory rooms.

One hundred and forty golfers will be taking part in the championship on Sept 28.

The sensory rooms contain multi-sensory equipment called Snoezelen to stimulate the senses of special children.

The equipment, from Europe, is a crucial tool for teachers and physiotherapists or occupational therapists to make lessons effective for children with learning disabilities.

It will enable the children to learn essential skills such as walking, speaking, memorising and interacting with people.

This year, the funds will be used to build a sensory room at Semangat Maju School in Ipoh and Sarawak Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children in Kuching.

   RMHC Malaysia president Chan Chee Chin said they had established 12 such facilities in 12 centres across Malaysia for the rehabilitation and teaching of special children.

   "Most schools need the equipment but find it difficult to purchase and maintain them.

"Through this sponsorship, valued at a minimum of RM80,000 per school, we will also help to maintain the equipment.

"In addition, the teachers are trained to maximise the use of the equipment correctly. More than 1,000 children have benefited from this project," said Chan.

He said this at a media briefing at the Special Children Society of Ampang (SCSOA), here.

SCSOA is one of the beneficiaries of the RMHC project.

   RMHC also presented donations worth RM5,000 each to SCSOA and Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped Selangor and Federal Territory.

   SCSOA president Christine Wong said: "We are thankful to RMHC for building the sensory room in our centre in May last year.

   "It has benefited 60 children here.

"The room helps them to relax and be calm as well as develop their basic skills. They have shown some improvement in their self-confidence."

   Meanwhile, each golfer at the championship will receive an exclusive TaylorMade-Adidas merchandise and stand a chance to win a BMW 328i Sport as the Hole-in-One prize.

A minimum donation of RM1,200 was the prerequisite to enter the championship.

Also present at the event were McDonald's Malaysia managing director Sarah Casanova and sponsor representatives.

Special child Fong Siong from Special Children Society of Ampang in a bubble tube in a Ronald McDonald Sensory Room. Pic by Amir Irsyad Omar

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Golf tourney raises funds for sensory rooms

MAKING SENSE: Ronald McDonald House Charities collected RM200,000 to purchase and maintain equipment for children with learning disabilities

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