KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 100 children from four charity homes were today feted to a ‘buka puasa’ treat by Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The children from Tasputra Perkim, Taman Megah Disabled Children’s Care Home, Pusat Jagaan Kasih Harapan and The National Cancer Society of Malaysia, were all smiles as they enjoyed a lavish spread, courtesy of the hotel.
The event was graced by the Sultanah of Terengganu Tuanku Nur Zahirah, who presented monetary aid, worth RM400,700 in total, from the hotel to recipients.
The monetary aid, collected from the hotel’s annual corporate social responsibility programme named ‘Embrace the gift of life’, went to 11 children, suffering from heart ailments and in need of medical attention.
The children were aged between two and 16.
Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur area general manager Manfred Weber said the hotel has raised RM4 million since the charity project was initiated in 1985.
“Over the years, we have helped 300 children, suffering from congenital heart diseases or hole-in-the-heart to undergo life-saving operations,” he said.
Siti Fatimah Mohd Khalil, whose daughter Nur Leeniy Hanna Mohd Rashidi suffered from congenital heart disease, was one of the aid recipients.
The 27-year-old said her eight-month-old daughter’ surgery cost RM50,000, well beyond what she and her husband could afford.
“I am thankful to Shangri-La for fully covering my daughter's surgery," she said.