All aboard for charity (Monday July 20, 2009)

Source: The Star By TUNKU SHAHARIAH
THE rhythmic beating of the drum and the commanding voice of the coxswain (taikong) kept up the spirits of some 80 rowers who braved the haze and wind to raise RM100,000 for charity in Penang.
They also made it to the Malaysia Book of Records for the ‘longest distance rowed in a dragon boat in Malaysia’.
Spectators watching rowers file into the dragon boat for the endurance challenge at the coastal front of Queensbay Mall.
The Paddle for Hope 2009 Endurance Challenge saw the rowers, aged between 17 and 68, taking turns to make 10 trips from the coast in front of Queensbay Mall to Penang Bridge from 6am to 6pm on Saturday.
This was the first time such an event was organised in Penang.
A total of 20 rowers, a coxswain and a drummer went on each trip.
Kok Siew Fah, 68, a cancer survivor who rowed her heart out for charity.
They took about 70 minutes for each trip spanning 6.1 nautical miles (11km).
The oldest participant Kok Siew Fah, 68, a cancer survivor, said the hard work she had put in during the several months of training had paid off.
Rowers, paddling to the commanding voice of the coxswain standing at the helm of the dragon boat.
“It was gruelling but worth it as deep inside me, I realised that each time I rowed, I was helping other less fortunate people,” she said.
Kok, who is a member of the Pink Victory (a club formed by cancer survivors), said the regular exercise had also improved her health.
Fifth former Khoo Jin Sheng, 17, from Chung Ling High School, said the thought of making it into the Malaysia Book of Records and also helping the needy motivated him to join the challenge.
Khoo, who took part in three trips, said the haze made it difficult for him and other rowers to see and breathe.
“Although the rowing caused some minor body aches, I’d do the feat again for a charitable cause,” he added.
The event’s publicity chairman Don Law said the rowers were ecstatic as they had exceeded the 44.4 nautical miles (80km) target set for the ‘longest distance rowed in a dragon boat in Malaysia’ by 17.8 nautical miles (32km).
By 6pm, they had rowed a distance of 62.2 nautical miles (112km).
Organising committee chairman Conor Mc Manus said 44.4 nautical miles was approximately the distance of a round Penang island trip.
“We decided to hold it along the coast so that more people can watch the rowers in action,” he said.
The event was organised by the Penang Forward Sports Club’s Dragon Boat Team, Freyssinet and Intel and endorsed by the state Tourism Development Commit-tee and the Penang Municipal Council.
He said the money raised would be donated to Community AIDS Service Penang, Relau Rumah Charis Bhd Home for Senior Citizens, House of Hope, Cancerlink and the Mental Health Association of Penang.