M-bike rides are grandma's cancer ‘therapy'

The Star

2 days ago

Compiled by ARFA YUNUS, C.ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
NEITHER age nor illness has slowed down 56-year-old Syarifah Mohamed, who rides solo across hundreds of kilometres on her motorcycle.
A mother of four and breast cancer survivor, Syarifah turned to biking as a form of therapy after being diagnosed with stage-three cancer in 2016.
According to Harian Metro, she underwent 23 sessions of chemotherapy between 2017 and 2019, which forced her to resign from her job as a petrol station cashier.
'During recovery, while I was still weak, I stumbled upon a motor­cycle community online and felt inspired to explore the country on two wheels,' she recalled.
Syarifah began with a humble Honda EX5, later riding her child­ren's Yamaha bikes before buying a SYM Jet 14 scooter of her own.
Now a grandmother of five, Syarifah enjoys her weekend rides alone, relishing the freedom to stop wherever she wants, whether to eat, pray or take in the scenery.
Last October, she upgraded to a Modenas Dominar D400, seeking better comfort for longer journeys. Though she still experiences occasional numbness after exten­ded rides, Syarifah no longer takes medication and continues with regular health checks.
'Riding makes me feel alive and gives me a sense of freedom. After surviving cancer, I've realised I want to spend my time doing what truly brings me joy,' she said.
> Singer Nabila Razali celebra­ted her husband Nik Iruwan's birthday with a touching post on Instagram, expressing gratitude for leading their family with his love and tenderness.
'Thank you for being the man who leads our family with ­compassion,' she wrote, as quo­ted by Kosmo!.
The 33-year-old reflected on how fatherhood has softened Nik Iruwan, once known for his stoic demeanour.
Since the arrival of their son five months ago, even the smallest things like baby socks and yawns have begun to stir his emotions.
'Fatherhood has gently transformed your soul in the most beautiful way. I've witnessed this new side of you over the past few months,' she shared.
Nabila praised his selflessness and devotion, recalling quiet moments when he checks on both her and the baby in the middle of the night, and still finds ways to make her laugh despite only getting two hours of sleep.
'You've embraced this new chapter with love and strength. I fall in love with you all over again, every day,' the post continued.
Nabila and Nik Iruwan, a businessman from Kelantan, tied the knot on Nov 18, 2023. They welcomed their baby boy in Decem­ber, though they have kept his name and face private for now.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)