From
The Star in Malaysia. In the picture, the Percussion Band performs for guests.
For a person with cerebral palsy, great effort is needed just to pick up a tambourine or hold on to a drum stick to hit on the drums.
However, with a love for music and through diligent training, the Percussion Band from the Spastic Children's Association of Selangor and Federal Territory can now play together in unison despite the difficulty they have in moving their limbs.
The band, consisting of about 15 members aged between 14 and 45, proudly performed two numbers for their special guest, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
The Sultan was present at the association's premises in Petaling Jaya to lay the foundation for a new nine-storey building under its redevelopment plans.
"We have come a long way since we started out in 1960 with five children. In 1964, we had 50 children and today, we have 250 children registered with us," said association president Datuk Dr Lam Peng Chong.
He said the support and understanding of their kind-hearted donors were vital in the growth of the centre.
"The cost to transport one child to our centre alone is about RM200 per month and we're grateful for the people who have supported us," he said.
"We will also have two dormitories for girls and boys so that parents can leave their children here for the night if they have something to do," he said.
He said they have managed to raise RM10mil out of the RM18mil needed for the redevelopment.
"Once we have raised the other RM8mil, we will start work on the building, hopefully in a month's time," he said.
