Club helps to pay for boy's spine surgery

Kelab Intan manager Chia Chwee Meng (left) handing the mock cheque to Razali Baba and Rosnah Abdul Manan.
KUALA LUMPUR: The plight of 9-year-old Mohd Sawfi Razali, who is in urgent need of corrective surgery for a spinal disorder, has touched the hearts of the management of Kelab Intan in Malacca.
Club manager Chia Chwee Meng and two colleagues came to Balai Berita to hand over a RM10,000 cheque as part of the cost of surgery at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) on June 16.Chia said the club's management decided to donate the amount as part of its corporate social responsibility. Sawfi's parents, Razali Baba and Rosnah Abdul Manan, expressed their gratitude to the club for its generous donation but added that they were still short by RM3,700 to pay for the surgery, which costs RM24,000.HUKM orthopaedic surgeon Dr Azmi Baharudin had said earlier that Sawfi has an abnormal spinal growth called idiopathic scoliosis, adding that early treatment was vital to prevent the spine from curving, which would later cause breathing difficulties.
Sawfi was diagnosed with the condition five years ago. He has two other siblings with similar disorders.His father is a fisherman earning about RM500 a month. Those who wish to donate can send cheques payable to "New Straits Times" with the patient's name written on the reverse side and addressed to: The Cashier, Finance department/ Charity Unit NSTP, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. For details, call 03-22823131 ext 6659 (Aida Nordin, senior executive, Charity Unit).
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