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Free Malaysia Today
27-04-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
When strangers became family for ailing race walk hero
Race walk hero G Saravanan is grateful to Malaysians for lifting him from despair. PETALING JAYA : When the once mighty race walker G Saravanan needed strength, the nation lent its soul. Malaysians donated nearly RM100,000 in days, every ringgit a pulse of solidarity for his battle with the incurable motor neurone disease (MND). The donors spanned every rung of society. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led the way with RM10,000. Past sports personalities made contributions born of camaraderie and respect. Ordinary citizens raced to the aid of the 54-year-old golden race walker. Each donation, no matter the size, carried the power of community care. The health ministry moved swiftly to offer free physiotherapy, which Saravanan needs daily to prevent further deterioration of his condition. The team from therapy perfect physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre assessing G Saravanan's needs for physiotherapy at his home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, last Friday. (M Sassikala pic) The therapy perfect physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre in Penang volunteered services until government assistance kicks in. For Saravanan, the deluge of support was deeply personal. 'Your kindness gives me strength,' he said, his slurred voice thick with gratitude. Then, with the same quiet fierceness that carried him to the gold medal in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, he declared: 'Let me be the last athlete in Malaysia to suffer alone from MND.' The multiple Southeast Asian Games medallist in the 20km and 50km fought MND in isolation since 2021, and had run out of money for treatment. Rather than retreat into privacy, he chose to share his diagnosis and prognosis with the nation through an interview with FMT. He spoke of his life expectancy of about five years, and the moment he realised that silence would perpetuate ignorance. 'If I stay quiet, no one learns; if I speak up, maybe someone somewhere gets help sooner.' His solitary fight soon turned into a nation's care for a vulnerable sporting hero. 'This outpouring is more than charity; it is a declaration of shared responsibility. After receiving RM10,000 from Anwar Ibrahim, MND sufferer G Saravanan handed over a letter to the prime minister, calling for greater awareness of the disease. (M Sassikala pic) 'It symbolises empathy and a refusal to let one of their own fight alone,' said Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed, the former chairman of the national athletes foundation (Yakeb). He said the seamless collaboration between the media, public bodies, private individuals, and grassroots networks demonstrated what can happen when compassion drives action. Turning personal struggle into a national mission Saravanan has called for greater awareness of MND and the crucial support needed for those stricken. In a letter to the prime minister, he urged the government to invest in research, screenings and partnerships to ensure no one endures the battle with the disease alone. He emphasised the importance of national campaigns and protocols for early detection, which can significantly impact the quality of life for patients. MND Malaysia chairman Benny Ng (right) and his staff Leow Hoay Hoay (left) at UMMC to give their support to G Saravanan and his wife. (MND Malaysia pic) One of Saravanan's key proposals is the establishment of specialised MND care centres in the country. He said these centres should be equipped with advanced facilities and staffed by neurologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, speech therapists and palliative care experts. By leveraging the strengths and resources of the public and private sectors, comprehensive care and support for MND patients can be made more accessible, he added. He said such partnerships could also drive advancements in research, treatment and rehabilitation. Saravanan's plea is more than a personal request. It is a clarion call to protect the health of every athlete who dares to push the limits of human endurance. Scientists have linked intense exercise with MND risk. In his prime, Saravanan walked over 5,000km a year, and sometimes covered 55km a day in preparation for competitions. MND warriors in Malaysia Around 1,000 people in Malaysia are diagnosed with MND yearly, based on world health organisation data of 20-30 people per 100,000 population. Presently, limited services for MND sufferers are provided by Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz. Saravanan's public battle with MND has significantly raised awareness about the disease, said MND Malaysia chairman Benny Ng. He said Saravanan's profile as a celebrated athlete ignited a national conversation about the challenges faced by those grappling with MND. 'By celebrating heroes like G Saravanan, we hope to inspire compassion, understanding, and unity across communities,' Ng said. Before Saravanan, the most high-profile case of a sports figure with MND was football legend Mokhtar Dahari. Mokhtar fought the disease for three years before he died at 39 in 1991. MND takes away people's ability to walk, speak, eat, manipulate objects and even breathe – all of the things we take for granted. As the condition progresses, messages from the brain gradually stop reaching the muscles, which in turn weaken, stiffen and eventually waste away. Most patients die within two to four years of diagnosis. Ng said that, according to his organisation's records, the youngest person to succumb to MND was a 21-year-old woman from Johor Bahru last year. 'Another woman was 32 when she was diagnosed with MND, and now she is 42, and an ambassador of MND Malaysia,' he added. Ng said there were more than 100 MND warriors in his society's WhatsApp group, and 'thanks to Saravanan we have had more people calling us'. MND Malaysia, formed in 2014, provides care, support, and advocacy for people living with MND and their loved ones. Motor neurone disease warriors at the Taiping Lake during one of the outings organised by MND Malaysia. (MND Malaysia pic) New-found family For M Sassikala, watching her husband's health deteriorate has been 'so hard' for her and their three children. Now, she is glad that they have the comfort of many Malaysians who have provided a supportive network. She said what happened for Saravanan can be viewed as the strengthening of the social fabric. 'When media shine a light on need, citizens respond. When leaders give not only funds but also institutional support, momentum builds. 'When a community recognises its shared stake in each member's well-being, there is hope and solidarity,' Sassikala said.
New Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Yakeb to discuss treatment plan for ailing Saravanan with UMMC
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) will continue to look at ways to assist former national walker G. Saravanan, who is battling motor neurone disease (MND). Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said the foundation is set to discuss a treatment plan for him with University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), where Saravanan has been receiving treatment on a scheduled basis. Saravanan is a legendary Malaysian athlete who won gold in race walking at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. No other Malaysian track and field athlete has been able to win gold at the Commonwealth Games since then. "The disease Saravanan has is quite critical and treatment for it is hard to explain," said Shapawi in a press conference here today (April 22). "I have discussed this with Yakeb board member Dr. Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, who is also director of sports medicine at the National Sports Institute. "We will have a discussion with UMMC soon to look at the most efficient way to treat him and get a better picture of how we can best help him. "Saravanan (who was warded at UMMC recently) has returned to Penang but will later return to Kuala Lumpur for his next scheduled appointment with UMMC." Despite facing financial constraints themselves, Shapawi said Yakeb has done their best to assist Saravanan since he was diagnosed with MND in 2021. This includes helping him obtain employment with the Penang State Sports Council in 2023, obtain invalidity pension from the Social Security Organisation last year as well as help support costs for him to obtain alternative treatment in India (2024-2025). Yakeb is also providing Saravanan with a subsistence allowance for a period of six months, beginning from this month. MND is a debilitating, life-shortening disease which causes muscle weaknesses that becomes progressively worse with time. It is the same disease that the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari faced. There is currently no cure for the disease though treatment is available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Saravanan has received extra support since his plight made headlines last week. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim contributed RM10,000 while public donations have exceeded RM20,000. Saravanan's treatment costs in excess of RM1,000 per week and his family have spent more than RM100,000 on treatment since 2021.
Barnama
22-04-2025
- Health
- Barnama
YAKEB, PPUM To Discuss Effective Treatment For Walking Legend Saravanan
KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) will hold a meeting with the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) to facilitate an effective line of treatment for former race walking champion G. Saravanan, who is suffering from a debilitating muscle disease. Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said that for now, the 55-year-old, who is stricken with motor neurone disease (MND) - a rare disease that causes muscle neurodegenerative disorder and has no known cure - has returned to his hometown in Penang. "The disease that Saravanan has is a fairly critical disease that is difficult to explain in terms of treatment, which is why he has undergone further treatment in India to receive alternative treatment. We have discussed with Yakeb Board of Trustees member Dr Ahmad Munawar Helmi Salim. bootstrap slideshow "Our meeting with PPUM is to get a real picture of what else can be done to facilitate medical treatment for Saravanan and he will remain at PPUM until his health improves," he said at a Yakeb press conference here today. Ahmad Shapawi said the assistance scheme that will be given to Saravanan is based on the foundation's capacity, in addition to the athlete also receiving a subsistence allowance for six months starting this month. On Friday (April 18), Saravanan received a contribution of RM10,000 from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, while Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abd Halim and the Prime Minister's Political Secretary, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi visited him at PPUM. Saravanan has been reportedly suffering from MND since 2021. In 1998, Saravanan brought frenzy to national pride when he ignored agonising leg cramps to cross the finish line and emerge as the men's 50-kilometre walk gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. His gold medal was the 10th for the national contingent at the Games, which saw Malaysia finish the edition as the fourth-best contingent overall.
