Down Syndrome centre invites treasure seekers to September event in aid of its operations
BACK for its 40th year, the Kiwanis Motor Treasure Hunt was officially launched at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation-National Centre educational facility.
Organised to raise funds for the centre, the treasure hunt with the theme “K 4.0 The Ruby Trail” will take place from Sept 23 to 24.
The hunt will span from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan, Pahang, providing participants with a fun-filled weekend of puzzle-solving and sightseeing all in the name of giving to a greater good.
Kiwanis Motor Treasure Hunt organising chairman Hwang Chia Sing said this year, the group hoped to raise RM500,000.
“Every year, we need about RM1mil to run operations. In recent years, because of the (Covid-19) pandemic, it’s been hard obtaining the resources to provide the best for our children here,” he said.
Founded in 1989, the organisation provides early intervention programmes and in-house professional therapy for young children with Down Syndrome.
Programmes include sensory integration intervention, autism movement therapy, rhythmic movement training and water-specific therapy.
Currently, the centre, located in Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya, accommodates 130 students with a teaching force of 20, including five therapists.
“Last year, we raised RM200,000 from the treasure hunt, but had a deficit of RM210,000, which made it hard for us to operate at full capacity,” said Hwang.
He hopes more people will be eager to participate this year.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh’s political secretary Yap Yee Vonne, who was representing the Youth and Sports Minister, commended Kiwanis on its commitment to children regardless of difficulties.
“We understand that no child is turned away because of affordability and that is a testament to the organisation’s dedication to the children and their parents,” she said.
She announced that Yeoh had given RM10,000 for the hunt and that the ministry would look into where support could be given in terms of promotion.
Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation president Godfrey Rajalingam said the organisers hoped to see the participation of 100 teams.
He added that the hunt had seen consistent participation from people of various ethnicities over the years and Kiwanis was encouraged by how it could bring many different groups of people together.
The treasure hunt has successfully obtained sponsorships from Swiss-Belhotel, long-term supporter LBS Bina Group Bhd and Arachem (M) Sdn Bhd, among others.
Entries are limited to 100 teams on a first-come-first-serve basis until Sept 3.
To join the treasure hunt, go to https://bit.ly/KTH40entry