HELLO THERE: Lorna having a light moment with a patient at the child cancer unit of the Sarawak General Hospital yesterday. Earlier, Lorna had her head shaven. (Photo courtesy of Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon)
KUCHING: Going bald for charity has been a “life-changing” experience for Datuk Lorna Enan Muloon, who has had long hair since she was two years old.
Speaking to The Star after shaving her head, the social worker was in good spirits, starting off talking about how she looked like a Shaolin monk.
“All I need is a yellow robe. But on a serious note, even after this, I can’t say I can ever fully understand what kids with cancer have to go through. But I feel so touched.
Source of courage: Lorna meeting a child in the Sarawak General Hospital before she shaved her head. (photo: The Star)
“They’ve given me courage. This experience has made me better. I’ve touched base with humility.”
Lorna said she did it because she believed understanding the plight of others was best learnt through personal experience.
“I really wanted to be with these children. I say it again and again that I cannot fully understand their emotional turbulence. I know, at the end of the day, I’m only shaving my head. I know that is a very different experience.”
Asked if she felt Malaysians were caring enough, she said she believed so.
“A lot of people do charity. I think it’s great. We must always remember to support one another.”
And how does being bald feel like?
“Good question! Well, so far people say I look younger. I’ve never had a bald head since I was a baby. But I don’t mind.”
For Naza Group chairman, Datuk Wira SM Faisal, who sponsored Lorna RM50,000, the work of cancer non-governmental organisations, like the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS), was especially meaningful.
His father, the founder of the company, died of lung cancer in May 2008.
“Any charity is good, but for today, I’m donating to SCCS because I truly believe in good cancer care for society’s most vulnerable,” Faisal told The Star.
“My own dad passed away at just 53 years old so I sort of understand how much cancer takes out of patients and their families.”
Children have amazing fighting spirit, Faisal said. All they need was care and love, and children would face cancer as well as any adult, he said.
“I’m really hoping to see the society’s centre when it is done. I want to see the playgrounds. My other wish is that maintenance is constantly carried out.”
Faisal was one of seven donors, who each pledged RM50,000 to Lorna’s donation drive. Three weeks ago, Lorna announced her intention to join the wildly popular Go Bald event.
“Lorna and I are old family friends. Once we heard about her intention, there was no question we would chip in,” Faisal said.
Lorna’s other big donors include the Bollywood superstar Datuk Shah Rukh Khan, Teo Ah Khing Foundation, Tan Sri Ling Chiong Ho (Shin Yang Group executive chairman), GLC Foundation and Island Circle Development Sdn Bhd.
At a total of RM500,000, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pledged a ringgit-to-ringgit matching grant, doubling the amount.
Personal sacrifice: Lorna posing for a photo with children undergoing cancer treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching yesterday after she shaved her head for the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society’s Go Bald campaign. In an exclusive interview with ‘The Star’ on page S3, Lorna said going bald was a life-changing experience. (Photo courtesy of C M Leong)
[source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/26/sarawak/8977605&sec=sarawak]
Related story: Lorna ‘heads in’ RM1mil for Go Bald
