KUCHING: Hope Place is seeking sponsorship for Nutren Optimum (complete and balanced nutritional supplement) for a struggling single father diagnosed with throat cancer and also caring for his four children.
Barkaline Hassan, a 49-year-old divorcee who lives in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Batu Kawa here, was diagnosed with throat cancer last year.
He used to be a daily paid construction worker but has stopped working since last December.
According to Hope Place founder Kelvin Wan, once Barkaline started chemotherapy in April this year, he began to have difficulty speaking and only managed to whisper.
“Currently, Barkaline is using tube feeding with the tube directly connected to his stomach. He is only taking Nutren Optimum as sustenance. He consumes one can within four days,” he said.
Barkaline has four children, of whom two have disabilities. His third child, who is 15, is not only disabled but has an autoimmune disease. Meanwhile, the youngest child Aiman has multiple disabilities.
“It was Aiman’s teacher who had kind-heartedly informed Hope Place of the family’s troubles. The teacher was concerned after Aiman was absent from special school for a few months earlier this year and thus decided to pay the family a visit,” said Wan.
The only breadwinner in the family now is Barkaline’s eldest child, who is currently working at Emart.
However, her salary cannot cover Barkaline’s medical bills as well as for the purchase of special sustenance that he requires.
Wan is also helping the family with some basic food aid.
Members of the public interested in making a donation can bank in to Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching, Maybank account 5112-8900-1160.
For more information, Hope Place can be reached at 013-5672775. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) currently takes care of over 190 needy families.
Opening hours are from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Mondays to Fridays and 8.45am to 12pm on Saturdays. Due to the current recovery movement control order, Hope Place is temporarily not accepting any second-hand items.
