I still remember the first time I met Frank, he gave me the impression that he’s very stubborn. We first knew each other when he joined my company many years ago as technical support. Having just 2 things in common (fan of McLaren F1 Team and same surname) our relationship grew from colleagues to close friends. When all of us left the company, we still kept in touch with each other and to me, he’s like a younger brother which I never had. At times when I needed help, he will be there. And at times when he needed my help, I’d be there for him.
Frank started to be a marathon runner a few years ago. As a dear friend of his, I’ve always been supportive no matter what he does, although I was quite worried. Worried about his health and sudden change. Through many ups and downs, his effort has finally paid off. At the time when I left for Hong Kong last year, he started Running Lab at Tropicana City Mall. And he’s turning into a marathon star of late, appearing in radio and TV.
Two weeks ago, he told me that he would be participating in Comrades Marathon, the “down” edition, in aid of cancer research. One of the 2 representing Malaysians for the world’s largest, oldest and perhaps one of the most gruelling 90km ultramarathon race called Comrades Marathon, taking place on 3 June 2012 at South Africa.
When I heard about this, I was amazed and proud of him. Frank was once a cancer patient, diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 12. Been thru alot of excruciating pain and fought cancer off with all his determination. And being an ex-cancer patient, he has decided to run for a good cause and benefiting CARIF (Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation).
I’ve had friends that died of cancer. Friends that recovered from cancer. Friends who lived to tell us the horror of cancer. For many years, there’s no cure found, but research needs to continue, in the hope that someday, we will have cure to this. If it’s not for my generation, probably for my children’s generation.
I have pledged my support to Frank and CARIF by purchasing the “special edition” T-shirt for TURCR (The Ultimate Race for Cancer Research). If you would also like to pledge your support, here are some ways you can contribute:
1) Purchase the “special edition” t-shirts at RM60 each, available end of Feb 2012. T-shirts are available at CARIF and Running Lab, Tropicana City Mall.
2) Donate. Cash or cheque (payable to Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation) can be deposited at CARIF or Running Lab, Tropicana City Mall.
3) “Like” and share the official Facebook page at The Ultimate Race For Cancer Research (www.facebook.com/TURCR)
If you are a Maybank M2U user:
1. Log in to your M2U account
2. Select Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation as the Payee Coropration under ‘Zakat & Charity’
3. Enter the donation amount you wish to contribute/cost of the t-shirt
4. Send an email to [email protected] indicating your name, contact number, address, date and amount of donation/preferred size of t-shirt.
If you have PayPal:
1. Log in to your PayPal account
2. Enter [email protected] at the TO column
3. Enter your email address, donation amount you wish to contribute/cost of the t-shirt
4. Click Purchase of Services
5. State ‘The Ultimate Race for Cancer Research’ in the message column
You. Me. Together We Can Beat Cancer.
Lastly to my dear friend, Frank, all the best to you in South Africa. You will do us (Malaysians) proud.