Last year’s inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia raised a total of RM435,993 Ringgit via the tournament’s ticket sales and the annual prestigious Gala Dinner. The 2010 tournament donation has enabled the establishment of a Patient Navigation Programme that aim to navigate newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients towards the right channels in seeking treatment options. Specifically, a Patient Decision Aid and a Patient Educational Video in Malaysia’s local languages (Bahasan Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil) are being developed to help patients to cope with cancer-related issues.

 

In addition, the funds raised support a new programme - the ‘More than a Mammo Programme’ in collaboration with Sime Darby Medical Centre. The “More than a Mammo Programme” aims to reach out to 1,000 Malaysian women by offering mammograms at a subsidized cost of RM50 (normal price of RM230) in an effort to study the link between mammographic density, genes and lifestyle factors. The study, sponsored by Sime Darby Medical Centre, CARIF and other partners, also hopes to encourage mammogram screening and underline the message that early detection saves lives.

 

This year, the organisers continue their support for breast cancer research and outreach at CARIF. The Charity Gala Dinner which was held at Sime Darby Convention Centre on 14 October 2011 featured World No 1 LPGA players, Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie. Also at the Dinner was the auction of personal items donated by PGA and LPGA Tour players. Some notable items that went under the gavel this year were two golf drivers  signed by world renowned golfer Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer who was on hand to autograph and hand the driver to the two donors: Mr C K Chan and Dato Gan.