“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be...”

The above was one verse of the lyrics from the Josh Groban song, You Raise Me Up that Vincent Chong Ying Cern –  known to Malaysians as Vince Chong of Akademi Fantasia fame sang at the Radiology Malaysia’s annual event – the Prize Presentation for the 2006 Discover Radiology Malaysia Fun Online Quiz. This was dedicated to the cause of raising breast cancer awareness and Vince’s grandmother who had passed away from breast cancer.

Juwita Suwito was also a celebrity guest at the event and she performed three songs, much to the delight of all those present at the event, 19 prize winners, sponsors, partners in prevention, friends, supporters and guests. The songs were Destiny’s Calling, Teman Sejati and Natural Woman. The former two songs were from her latest album, For Real.

Juwita Suwito and Vince Chong, celebrity singers were part of the College of Radiology’s Annual Prize Presentation Event at Zuho Restaurant, in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

The winners of the contest came from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Terengganu. The Grand Prize of a Philips 32 inch LCD Television and Philips DVD player was won by Lily Yoong Sin Foong. Hers was the only all correct entry. Other prizes were won by Siew Sou Mui (APPLE iPod Colour Video 80Gb), Azam Abdul Jalil and Low Chew Houng (each won an APPLE iPod Nano 4 Gb) while Lim Saw Ai and Chin Ren Yi each won a BenQ FP92W LCD Widescreen monitor.

Kevin Lew, Cheah Chang Ming, Low Tang Foong, Kheng Guat Hoon and Chung Ai Tee each won a Diamond Face Treatment as well as an annual subscription of Kidz Magazine. Azizah Abdul Ghani, Christopher Ho Chee Keong and Monica Lew each won an annual subscription of Readers’ Digest. Sim Lee Lee, Jessica Lew Kah Wai, Lew Nee Fook, Mohamad Azwar Hashim and Lee Pey Sei each won a 2Gb A-Data RB1 2Gb Flash Disk and a copy of the book by Teh Siew Lin, A Brush with Life.
 

The contest had a different feel to it in 2006 as participants had to solve clues to arrive at the answers. Quoting Siew Sou Mui, “I nearly gave up half-way because the questions were quite mind-boggling!” Lily Yoong, the Grand Prize Winner took part in the contest to test herself on how much she really knew about breast cancer and to equip herself with additional knowledge to help others.

The winners spanned an age range from 18 to 61 years! They included a Form 6 student (Jessica Lew), mechanical engineering students from Inti College, homemakers, a medical doctor, a nurse, a research officer, system analyst, accountants, administrative executive, a company secretary, bank officer, marketing manager and more! “It was great to note that Radiology Malaysia appealed to different generations and that it had achieved its aims of reaching out to as many walks of life as possible. In fact, there is quite a variety of feedback, queries and comments received on the website and forum,” exclaimed Dr Evelyn Ho, Editor of Radiology Malaysia.

During the event, Dr Evelyn Ho provided highlights of the activities of Radiology Malaysia and the breast health awareness programmes she coordinates, organises or complements other organisations’ activities efforts with. “Coming together in 2001 was the beginning; keeping together was progress for the College’s efforts and the ability to work together and synergise was success. For this, the College of Radiology has always promoted that all organisations including corporates put aside the competitive policies during community or social programmes to join forces and maximise resources.” Dr Ho added.

One of the key programmes of 2006 was the continuation of the College of Radiology’s Value Added Mammogram Programme (CMP) in the East Coast and Johor. For the first time, funding was extended to image guided biopsies. This was practical aid to those from smaller towns where travelling to large towns for further tests after the initial mammogram would entail hardship for some or great inconvenience for others. Out of the image biopsies done, 2 were proven to have breast cancer and only they needed to seek further treatment in the main centres. For the others, follow up the next year was all that was necessary. About  RM 41,000 had been used to subsidise the mammograms and fund the biopsies alone. Funding for printing of collaterals such as leaflets and bookmarks, forms were funded from different sources.

The 2006 CMP was made possible by Johnson & Johnson through Give2Asia foundation and the MMA Foundation Radiology Fund. Funding for 2007 and 2008 CMP would be now be possible as the CoR received donations from Pantai Medical Bangsar’s Wear It Pink 2 Breast Cancer Education  and Awareness Campaign (RM 100,000); Estee Lauder (RM 60,000), a group of expatriate wives (RM 6,435) and Johnson & Johnson through Give2Asia Foundation (a sum not yet confirmed).

The College of Radiology (CoR) took this opportunity to present a token of appreciation to Siemens for their 6 years of support since the inception of the Website annual activities. Mr Ng Boon Weng, Senior Sales Manager for Siemens Medical received the token on behalf of Siemens Medical. A special edition pewter CoR collar pin was presented to all the sponsors, partners in prevention and volunteers of CoR events.

The title sponsor of the Prize Presentation was Siemens Medical. Prize sponsors were Siemens Medical (Main sponsor), Body Perfect Sdn Bhd, Kidz Magazine for Parents by Parents & Kids, Readers’ Digest and Teh Siew Lin.

Finally, I would like to give some web space to our celebrity guests’ achievements and thank them for agreeing to liven up the CoR’s Prize Presentation.

About Juwita Suwito
Juwita’s debut solo album, ‘Brand New World” was awarded Best Local English Album at the prestigious AIM (Malaysian Music Industry) Awards in 2005. She was also nominated for Best Female Vocal Performance in an album the same year.

She is also the National Secretary General of the YWCA today and also represents the National Council of Women’s Organisation for today’s event! Juwita has also volunteered before as one of the PINK Models in the photoshoot for OutRageously Pink Nite Street Party organised in 2004 by the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council.