When James Yeo was just 16, his mother was diagnosed with end-stage cancer. With treatment being costly and little financial aid available, Yeo took o
When James Yeo was just 16, his mother was diagnosed with end-stage cancer. With treatment being costly and little financial aid available, Yeo took on several part-time jobs in the F&B sector to help his family manage the mounting expenses. However, balancing school, work, and caregiving responsibilities soon became overwhelming. Eventually, Yeo dropped out of school, and two-and-a-half years later, his mother passed away. Reflecting on that time, Yeo recalls, “It was a dark period for me — extremely mentally draining. It felt endless.”
This personal experience inspired Yeo to join 50 volunteer cyclists on a 1,000km journey from Penang to Singapore, part of a six-day endurance charity ride organized by the Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF). The goal? To raise funds for underprivileged kidney patients in need of subsidized dialysis and treatment.
The ride, which took place from Oct. 26 to 31, passed through Penang, Ipoh, Klang, and Muar. Cyclists spent more than 12 hours each day on the road, braving rain and shine alike. This year’s edition, the first since the pandemic, successfully raised over S$450,000, which will fund more than 2,400 dialysis sessions.
Yeo hopes to raise awareness of the emotional and financial strain that comes with caring for a terminally ill loved one. “It was mentally torturous,” he said, adding that the focus was always on survival — making enough money to cover medical bills and get through each day. “I missed out on parts of my teenage life due to my family circumstances, and I don’t want anyone to go through what I did.”
Donations for the fundraiser will remain open until Mar. 31, 2023, and the public is encouraged to contribute to the cause.
Top image courtesy of KDF.
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