Sacred Heart Knights rally in aid of underprivileged students
SIBU: A group of former Sacred Heart School (SHS) students calling themselves the Knights raised a whopping RM88,000 in a span of just four days, to aid underprivileged students in their alma mater.
The fundraising project called ‘White Knights Quest’ was initiated by Anthony Chan from the Class of 1993 with his year mate Lau Tiew Kiong.
Speaking at an event Saturday to hand over the aid to the first batch of recipients, Chan said he was unsure initially whether they could reach the initial target of raising RM6,100 to help hardcore poor students in the school, due to the current economic situation.
“But my teammates in Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (Shosa) told me to go forward with courage and set a minimum target of RM12,200, assuring me that SH Knights will rally to the cause,” he said.
True to their outstanding reputation, former students rose to the occasion with donations starting to pour in the moment the initiative was launched last Monday afternoon.
Dr Gregory Hii from Class of 1966, who is also former president of Shosa, was the first to give.
Others were quick to follow and by nightfall, the Knights had hit the targeted amount already.
“I couldn’t believe it was that fast,” Chan said.
To his pleasant surprise over the next few days, the momentum grew even stronger and when the donation drive ended at noon on Friday, Senator Robert Lau stepped forward to round the figure up to RM88,000.
A visibly-moved Chan expressed his gratitude to all his seniors, peers and juniors who gave so passionately in the fight against poverty.
“This will certainly be a moment in my life that I will hold true and dear to my heart. I feel very proud to be amongst this league of extraordinary gentlemen who returned to the school to help current students,” he said.
Chan said many of his peers were also stunned by the fact that the quest exceeded the set target by 720 per cent.
“More than 7.2 times of what we set out to do and within a four-day period only,” he exclaimed happily.
Tiew Kiong, who was cochairman for the fundraising drive, said the collected funds would be distributed in four phases.
Saturday was the first phase of distribution to 49 students, and this would be followed by Phase 2 for the 75 pupils of Sacred Heart English Primary School.
Phase 3 would be extended to underprivileged students not covered under the first phase of distribution when the secondary school reopens.
The final phase would be a ‘targeted assistance’ exercise whereby needy students would get aid in cash and kind.
On a related matter, Shosa president Yong King Sung, who was also present at Saturday’s event to lend a helping hand, said the Knights could always be counted upon to lend their alma mater a helping hand.
“Last October, the Knights chipped in more than RM120,000 to help upgrade the sound system in the school hall and two lecture halls,” he said.
“And now, they have stepped up again, united in the fight against poverty under the SHS White Knights Quest.”
Meanwhile, Senator Lau, who is from Class of 82 and also a former Shosa president, helped to register parents and family members of the aid recipients for their Covid-19 vaccination during the event.
But my teammates in Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (Shosa) told me to go forward with courage and set a minimum target of RM12,200, assuring me that SH Knights will rally to the cause.
Anthony Chan