Malaysian teen with Down syndrome aims to run 84km to raise RM50,000 for charity
To date, he has completed 17 'fun runs', covering distances between 2km and 5km. Now, Alexander, who has Down syndrome, is lacing up his shoes for a greater cause.
Running teaches Alexander important life lessons like perseverance.
In January, he and his father, Bruno Wilhelm, launched Run Alex Run (RAR) – a fundraising initiative in support of the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The centre holds a special meaning for the family as it was where Alexander received early intervention and support during his formative years.
To encourage his fundraising efforts, Fitness First Malaysia has pledged RM10,000 to the centre if Alexander runs the equivalent of a full marathon distance of 42km by June.
In the last five months, Alexander has already clocked a total of 30km, with another 12km to achieve by next month.
But that's not all. Alexander aims to go beyond that and complete 84km by December, and raise RM50,000 for the foundation. Plans are underway to start a public crowdfunding campaign to help reach this target.
Fostering inclusion
Through RAR, Wilhelm, 52, wants to create awareness, inclusion and hope.
'We want to break the taboo around disability and show that children with Down syndrome are capable of contributing meaningfully to society.
'Traditionally, people see disability as a burden, but Alexander proves otherwise. He is fit, determined and he is running to make a difference,' said Wilhelm, a businessman, in an interview in Kuala Lumpur.
Alexander also bakes breads and muffins to raise funds for different organisations. Photo: Ashley Pang
Wilhelm, a Swiss national who has been living in KL for over two decades, also wants to encourage parents by showing that children with special needs are capable of reaching greater heights.
'Society often assumes that people born with disabilities can't reach the same potential as neurotypical individuals. But we hope the public will start seeing people with different abilities as part of the community, just like anyone else.
'My wife and I also want to create awareness of the importance of inclusion and early intervention programmes. Our goal is to transform our society,' says Wilhelm, who accompanies Alexander on his runs.
The father of two has seen many positive transformations in Alexander since he started running. For example, his coordination and stamina have improved a lot.
Wilhelm says what matters more are his son's self-esteem, and the endurance training he does for each run.
'It is not easy even for a typical youth, what more for a special needs youth like him. Running gives him a goal to achieve. Running teaches him to never give up no matter how difficult it is until one arrives at the final destination. This is a very important life lesson too. He understands this and is using it in his daily life. His motto is 'Better Every Day'.
'Alexander says running helps to keep him fit and he gets to run at different places. The music, warm-up dances, ambience and friendly runners of each race make it fun and special for him.'
To build his stamina, Alex-ander trains at the gym and runs around their neighbourhood in KL.
Wilhelm adds that his son works with a personal trainer to strengthen his endurance, mobility and agility.
'To keep him motivated, I take videos and pictures of him, documenting his whole race. I will then compile it into a video clip for him. He loves it very much. After each run, I'd take him for a nice breakfast.
'Tell me how not to be motivated?' he quips.
Giving back
This isn't the first time Alexander is doing something for charity. During the pandemic, his mother, businesswoman Ashley Pang, 49, started Project Kindness, a pay-it-forward initiative. She set up Alex's Bakery, a home-based effort where Alexander bakes breads and muffins to raise funds for different organisations, including welfare homes, children's hospice, soup kitchens and non-profit schools.
Pang (top) is proud of her son's dedication to the disabled community. Photo: Ashley Pang
Wilhelm said the aim of Project Kindness is to connect people for a common cause. Through this simple project,the family has been able to spread the ripples of kindness, love and hope within the community.
'We completed 38 projects from 2021 to 2024. We are very fortunate to have very kind and supportive patrons. When we were raising funds, we received good responses. When we were collecting pre-loved books and clothes for welfare homes, many dropped off boxes for us.
'We have created a network for a kinder and caring community. This is our mission,' says Wilhelm.
As recognition for his contribution and positive impact to society, Alexander was given the 2024 Tuanku Bainun Young Change-makers Award under the 'individuals aged 13-18 category'.
'This recognition is very important for him and the special needs community,' Wilhelm adds.
Through the Project Kindness initiative, Wilhelm hopes to inspire parents of special needs children by showing that with patience and consistency, children of all abilities can shine in their own unique way.
'Some of them become our family friends and some become our big supporters.
'Our message to them is, 'You are not alone. Let's walk together hand in hand in the journey of creating a better and kinder world'.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
NSCMA plans RM130mil hospital expansion with 100 more beds
SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Association (NSCMA) has unveiled ambitious expansion plans for CMH Specialist Hospital, citing evolving patient demands and the need for healthcare innovation. NSCMA president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock announced that the Hospital Management Committee has approved a two-phase development strategy worth RM130 million during the association's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) recently The first phase involves constructing a six-storey parking facility costing RM10 million, scheduled for completion by late October. This addition will provide 310 new parking spaces to address current capacity constraints. Phase two encompasses a ten-storey medical tower with basement parking, requiring an investment of RM120 million. Construction is planned to commence in March 2026, with completion targeted for June 2029 and full operational capacity by January 2030. The medical block expansion will significantly enhance the hospital's capabilities, increasing inpatient bed capacity from 66 to 166 units - a 100-bed addition. Specialist clinic services will also expand dramatically from 16 to 45 facilities, substantially broadening healthcare coverage. To accommodate the new development, two existing structures will be demolished in January 2026. This includes the hospital's most historic building, erected in 1935 and inaugurated by Tiger Balm founders Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par alongside NSCMA's inaugural president Datuk Wong Yick Tong. Lee assured that the commemorative plaque honoring the Aw brothers will be relocated prominently within the new medical facility to preserve this heritage. The second building scheduled for demolition is the Tan Lam Hui Dialysis Centre, established through Tan Sri Vincent Tan's RM3 million donation in memory of his father. The replacement dialysis unit will retain the same name to honour this philanthropic contribution. Lee emphasised the importance of collective effort in achieving the hospital's expansion goals, expressing gratitude to management, healthcare professionals, members, and community supporters for their continued commitment to the institution's growth and success.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Patient expectations reshaping Malaysia's healthcare sector
KUALA LUMPUR: Increasing patient expectations have reshaped the healthcare industry, and hospitals must embrace change and innovation to ensure sustainable growth, said Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Association (NSCMA) president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock. Lee, speaking at NSCMA's recent extraordinary general meeting (EGM), warned that stagnation and complacency would inevitably lead to obsolescence. With this in mind, he said the hospital management committee has approved the CMH Specialist Hospital expansion plan, which will be carried out in two phases. He noted that Phase 1 involves the construction of a six-storey carpark block. The RM10 million project began on March 1, 2025, and is expected to be completed by the end of October. He said the new facility will add 310 parking bays to meet growing demand. Lee said Phase 2 will involve the construction of a 10-storey medical block and a basement car park. "This will be the most ambitious development in our hospital's history - a landmark project in March next year. "The total cost of the entire redevelopment project is estimated at RM120 million. "This marks a significant milestone in the expansion of our hospital capacity and the upgrading of our medical facilities," he added. Lee said key features of the new medical block include an additional 100 inpatient beds, increasing the total from 66 to 166 beds, as well as an expansion of specialist clinics from 16 to 45, significantly broadening service coverage. He noted that to fund the phase, NSCMA will launch a fundraising exercise via issuance of new ordinary shares, targeting RM45 million. This represents 31 per cent of NSCMH Holdings Sdn Bhd's equity. He said the overall redevelopment cost is estimated at RM120 million, with the remaining balance to be financed through bank loans. "We anticipate groundbreaking of the medical block to begin in March 2026 and estimate to building completion on June 2029, with full operations expected by January 2030," he added. However, Lee said before construction begins, two existing buildings will be demolished in January 2026. This includes the most iconic one, built in 1935 and officiated by the legendary Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, along with NSCMA's founding president Datuk Wong Yick Tong. "The commemorative plaque honouring the Aw brothers will be carefully relocated to a prominent place in the new medical block," he said. Lee noted that the other building to be demolished is the Tan Lam Hui Dialysis Centre, donated by Tan Sri Vincent Tan in memory of his father with a RM3 million contribution. He said the new dialysis unit will continue to bear the name "Tan Lam Hui Dialysis Centre" to honour this philanthropic legacy. According to Lee, the RM45 million that NSCMA is raising this time will be used to cover 30 per cent of the construction cost for the new medical block. "We will secure a bank loan of RM80 million to fund the remaining cost of the entire project. "Similarly, this RM80 million loan will be personally guaranteed by myself, and corporate guaranteed by NSCMA and NSCMH Holdings Sdn Bhd," he said. Lee noted that once the new block is completed and fully operational, NSCMA will consider listing NSCMH Holdings on the stock exchange, when the time and conditions are right. "Our ultimate goal is to achieve corporate good governance - establishing a robust, corporate governance system to enhance competitiveness while balancing stakeholder interests and generating long-term social value.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
High penalties trap consumers in unwanted wellness subscriptions
KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers attempting to cancel unwanted wellness subscriptions are being hit with penalties as high as RM58,000, the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) said. NCCC senior manager Saral James Maniam said that the RM58,000 penalty applied to just one service. The centre has also received complaints involving digital and media services. She said the NCCC had observed a rise in complaints from consumers who felt trapped by unwanted subscriptions due to excessive delays, steep penalties or complicated cancellation procedures. The centre is preparing a report covering 2019 to 2024 and does not intend to reveal complaint totals until its expected release in November. Saral said, however, that the figures were alarming. She said 77 per cent of the complaints received were related to wellness services, such as gyms, beauty, skin and weight management, with digital services in telecommunication and streaming making up the remaining 23 per cent. She said gym memberships topped the list at 42 per cent of total complaints, mostly from those aged between 18 and 40. Weight management programmes, which often come with hefty price tags and lengthy contracts, made up a further nine per cent. "This was followed by spa and beauty services at 14 per cent and facial or cosmetic skin treatments at 12 per cent, mostly involving working professionals and urban women aged between 20 and 45. "In digital and media services, telecommunications contributed 13 per cent and streaming subscriptions 10 per cent. "These services span all age groups, but subscription traps disproportionately affect elderly users and digitally vulnerable groups, including those unfamiliar with opt-out processes or digital billing," Saral told the New Sunday Times. Saral said more elderly consumers were also reporting complaints involving telecommunication services, especially over unsolicited charges and unclear auto-renewal plans. She said penalties imposed on consumers seeking to terminate contracts typically range from RM1,500 to RM5,000 for gym memberships, RM1,300 to RM10,000 for spa and beauty services and RM6,400 to RM40,000 for skin treatments. Other complaints included termination charges for telecommunication packages (RM300 to RM3,800), broadcast TV subscriptions (RM170 to RM10,000) and weight management programmes (RM1,500 to RM58,000). "Signing up for a plan is simple, but cancellation is difficult. "In many cases, consumers unknowingly commit to long-term contracts through free trials that automatically convert into paid plans. "These practices, whether designed intentionally or by inertia, unfairly skew the marketplace in favour of businesses, often at the expense of consumer rights and financial wellbeing." Saral said while the Consumer Protection Act 1999 offers safeguards, particularly for prepaid "future services", such as gym or tuition packages, it does not cover digital or auto-renewing subscriptions. Telecommunications contracts, she said, remain a regulatory grey area. Under current practices, service providers are allowed to impose early termination penalties at their own discretion, with little to no consumer recourse. "This puts consumers in a difficult position, either to tolerate poor service or pay a hefty sum to escape." Saral added that there was no standardised requirement for companies to waive penalties in cases of unresolved service failure. CONSUMER ADVICE She advised consumers to review contracts and cancellation terms before signing up, and to use credit cards instead of debit cards for recurring charges, which offer more protection for dispute resolution. "Do not scan QR codes or provide card information without verifying the merchant. "In one case, a consumer was charged RM99 after scanning a QR code on a water meter from a third-party service provider," She urged affected consumers to lodge complaints through my or take matters to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims. CALL FOR STRONGER PROTECTION Saral said Malaysia should adopt global best practices to close loopholes and strengthen consumer protections. She said the government should establish a centralised redress platform — a one-stop portal involving the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Health Ministry and local councils — to streamline licensing, regulation and consumer complaints. "Each of these agencies and ministries is responsible for licensing, regulation and consumer redress in their domains," she said. Saral urged regulators to mandate clear disclosures on contract duration, auto-renewal terms, cancellation procedures and total upfront and recurring costs, practices already in place in countries, like Australia and the United Kingdom. "In Australia, the Competition and Consumer Commission enforces mandatory pre-contract disclosures. "In the United Kingdom, companies must comply with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, ensuring full disclosure." Saral proposed a cooling-off period for high-value contracts, especially for gyms, slimming centres and beauty packages.
