Inspired by a beloved family friend who passed away while under palliative care, 17-year-old Visaghan Shanta Mohan has raised RM28,551 for Hospis Malaysia.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) spoke to the St John's International School student who raised the impressive amount in a short span of just three weeks, by organising a bazaar selling items sourced from India.

According to the report, this is not Visaghan's first initiative to help the charitable organisation that provides palliative care to patients for free.

Last year, he had raised RM27,500 through a movie screening event, and he had hoped to do the same this year, but the initiative was hampered by the enforcement of the second Movement Control Order (MCO 2.0) last month to curb the spread of COVID-19.

This was when the teenager's mother suggested holding a Christmas and New Year's Bazaar, selling items like envelopes, boxes, bags, scarves, sarongs, dressing gowns, kurtas and Indo-western attire, all sourced from India, and were sold for between RM50 and RM200 each.

The fundraising event was called "The Ripple Effect in memory of the late Uncle Jegadeva", after a close family friend who received palliative care from Hospis Malaysia when he was terminally ill.

"Before he passed away, Uncle Jegadeva wanted to raise funds for Hospis Malaysia and that is why we feel such a close connection to this place.

"It made me understand the importance of palliative care," the youngster told the portal.

Visaghan had initially intended to raise just RM20,000, but the donation far exceeded the target as not only the locals, but even those living in Australia, contributed to the cause.

"Considering that we are facing challenging times, the figures truly reflect that there is always hope when our fellow Malaysians come together to make things happen," added the youth, who hopes to study law in the future.

Kudos for the noble effort Visaghan!


Article & Photo source: FMT