Success Stories

“A few years ago, I used the SimplyGiving platform to raise funds in conjunction with a marathon I was running. I can personally vouch for the great experience at SimplyGiving. By using their platform, they made it so easy for the people in my network to contribute to my charity of choice, Make-A-Wish Malaysia. My fundraising project was initiated and completed in a timely and secure manner. SimplyGiving has really simplified the concept of giving for people who want to make a difference to the lives of those in need. So, why wait? Go ahead and start your own fundraising campaign through SimplyGiving today!” - Tengku Zafrul Aziz

"As the great Whitney Houston once said, “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” Every parent wants the best for their child. As a father of a 2-year-old autistic child, there are additional challenges, but I am no different. My family treats my son with unwavering love for which I would be eternally grateful. However, with over 300,000 people in Malaysia on the autism spectrum, I often wonder how their families are coping. I wanted to give them a voice, hope and a reason to believe in. SimplyGiving's online fundraising platform provided me that opportunity. As an avid runner, I channelled my passion for the sport whilst raising awareness for autism. I believe this to be my life purpose. To date, I have completed several runs including my first full marathon in 2017 where I raised RM40,000 through SimplyGiving for the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM). I remember crossing the finish line in tears as it marked a personal running milestone fuelled by a passionate cause. In September this year, I will continue my life's mission by completing 100KM at Janda Baik Ultra 2019. Everyone can make a difference. You just need to make the first step." - Mohd Dzulkaedah

"Missed opportunities and the story of my life. Growing up, I took my education for granted as I dedicated much of my time and effort into other adverse avenues. Unfortunately for me, these poor decisions led to severe repercussions later in life as my career plateaued early and I grew envious of my peers’ success stories and lifestyles. There were many regrets and questions of “what-ifs” but I was never going to turn back time. It was then that I decided to give back to the community. As a fitness enthusiast, I wanted to synergize my passion for running with my mission of ensuring all underprivileged children had access to proper education. SimplyGiving enabled me to do just that. Since 2017, I have used SimplyGiving to raise funds for Rumah Aman Children's Home and UNICEF Malaysia via my races. Although most of my races are both physically and emotionally demanding, my undying passion to serve these charities often powered me across the finish line. It has been a real journey and I still get excited over a new donation notification. It is what keeps me going. Wait no longer, come join me!" - Wooi Keat

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream - C.S Lewis. "For many people, turning fifty is usually a massive milestone. Afterall, it indicates that you have lived for half a century whilst bearing witness to fifty years of history! Now, that’s a HUGE deal for many people. Thus, it is unsurprising to see people crossing this “Great Divide” with a sense of apprehension. I on the other hand chose to see it differently. I was raring to take on the second half of my life with full gusto. Many goals were set but none would compare to scaling Mount Kinabalu. A personal quest dating many years ago, I was dead set on making it a reality despite two failed attempts. To make my pursuit more purposeful, I engaged with Simply Giving prior to my next attempt. As a firm believer for children’s education, I pledged my support to Kebajikan Pergerakan Adil (PKPA). The third attempt was filled with obstacles, constantly begging my body to stop. However, I soldiered on. My commitment to the children of PKPA was the extra motivation I needed to succeed in addition to raising RM12,000 towards a worthy cause. If a fifty-year-old “aunty” can do it, what’s stopping you?" - Natasha Lee Abdullah

“Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us—except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale.” – Khaled Hosseini . At Ideas Academy, we strongly believe that education is an empowering force and it is our mission to embody this belief. Having engaged with students from all walks of life, we see the same burning desire to succeed in all of them. Although there is a degree of fear and apprehension amongst those who have experienced loss of loved ones, we take it in our stride to encourage them whilst instilling lots of positivity. Afterall, the only thing more powerful than fear is hope. A hope for something better, that is well within their grasp. . As a passionate educator, I am eternally grateful to Simply Giving for enabling me to devote my full attention to our students and not needing to worry about the organization’s financial position. Together, we will strive to ensure that no child is left behind. Education is a basic human right. Let’s keep it that way.

“Use your gifts and talents for good and to inspire." "My parents taught me this important life lesson and always encouraged me to be kind to the people around us. Growing up in a family that practiced gratitude and giving back, I often took part in my parents' missions. I witnessed first-hand, the cruel depths of poverty, hunger, lack of healthcare and abandonment. It saddens me greatly that despite our technological advancements and economic resources, these groups of people are overlooked. It pains me to see them suffering and, in some instances, alone. I knew then, that more needed to be done. We decided to team up with SimplyGiving, the online fundraising platform, to raise funds for House of Joy, a home for orphans, children and teens. “Giving Back With Music” was our third project and the objective was to provide an opportunity for the children to seek solace in or comfort from music. It was a huge success! For our upcoming project, we aim to spread awareness on bullying in schools. As a victim of bullying, I understand the trauma and fear each victim go through. It can be very overwhelming. Thus, I hope this campaign will shed light on the severity of bullying in some schools as well as ways we can overcome it together." - Isabelle Sisoski

"Hi, I am Samantha Lee and I was born and raised in Teluk Intan. Like most of my peers, I lived the first quarter of my life based on a tested and proven template for success. I attended school religiously and studied diligently for good grades to finally landing my dream job in Kuala Lumpur. I implemented the plan steadfastly with a staunch belief that it would lead me to a contented life in the future. However strangely enough, it didn’t as I realized that the novelty of these successes and achievements tend to fizzle out, leaving me in a quandary. . I then ventured back home to do some soul searching where I came across Hope Mission Welfare. Established in 2008, this orphanage aims to provide for children who were abused, abandoned, neglected or were part of a broken family. I soon discovered during my visit that there were insufficient living quarters and the essential facilities were time-worn. Although the home’s administrators were doing their utmost best, the living conditions were less than ideal. I understood that these kids were merely circumstantial victims, but they deserve every chance to succeed at life, just like I did. . It was then my idea, “Wheeling for a Change” was conceived. In-cooperation with Simply Giving, I harnessed my passion for cycling to ride across all 13 states in Malaysia within one month, in hopes of creating awareness and raising funds for the orphanage. Planning and executing a journey of this magnitude was certainly a colossal undertaking. Nevertheless, I persevered through every challenge because I had a cause worth fighting for. . As I conclude, I would like to thank my amazing support system which includes my family, friends and all the encouraging bystanders I encountered along my journey. You guys are the real heroes." - Samantha Lee

"It saddens me to read news about children around the world suffering from different kinds of life-threatening illnesses. What is worse is that those who need quality healthcare cannot afford it. I think that is really unfair! Everyone deserves a chance to live a healthy and happy life! My friend, Chong Yong and I decided to do something about it. With help and encouragement from our parents and friends, we started our own community programme called “Zero To Hero” to help raise funds for ANGSANAcare, an organisation that assists and supports children with chronic conditions. We did this by selling homemade cookies and handicrafts in a stall during our Family Fun Day at School, as well as raise funds on SimplyGiving. Fundraising was easy on SimplyGiving because everything was done online. Anyone can play a part, no matter how big or small. Doing this was really fun and you can join Chong Yong and I too!" - Chloe Tai

"Did you know that 1 in 68 new-borns worldwide faces the risk of autism? The Malaysian Department of Statistics recorded 508,700 births in 2017 which equate to approximately 7,500 of them being at risk. This neurological disorder is also found to be 4 times more prevalent in boys than girls. Look, these statistics were trivial to me a year ago, but my worldview has changed significantly since. . It initially started out as a project where my classmates and I were tasked at raising awareness on autism in Malaysia. As we delved deeper, we discovered an information gap in the public space. Most people were uninformed and those who did merely scratch the surface. Based on the current birth-rate, we are bound to have a sizable population of autistic children in society over the next decade. How do we provide for them? What about education, healthcare or medication needs? How do we assimilate them into society? These are the tough questions we constantly ask ourselves. . This gave rise to our Au-mazing Heroes project. Our mission is to specifically spread awareness to the general public. We are partnering with Simply Giving to help raise funds for the Autism Cafe Project and the response has been amazing! Thus far, we have raised RM11,000 through several events including a public roadshow, photoshoots and sale of merchandise made by the autistic youth. We know our work is far from done but we have many plans in the pipeline to help us get there. Every little bit counts so support our cause." - Munirah Johari

"My father always told us, “Think about others, not just yourself. When we give, we receive one way or another”. It was he who inspired me to help others. Few years ago, I read and heard about donating one’s birthday. I admired what they did but thought it was only possible for celebrities or influencers. It was my dream for many years. Last year, I went to @Pit Stop Community Cafe in KL where my son was having a school project. I joined him and his friend to volunteer at Pit Stop and it was an eye-opener as I witnessed first-hand, the severity of the homeless and impoverished in Kuala Lumpur. Pit Stop is doing such an amazing work but goes relatively unnoticed. For this year’s birthday, I decided to donate my birthday to Pit Stop and engaged SimplyGiving, which enabled me to start my own fundraising page “I’m donating my birthday this year” easily. Initially, I wasn’t comfortable promoting my campaign. However, after receiving tips from the SimplyGiving team, I understood that it was up to me to achieve my target. I got out of my comfort zone and shared my fundraising page on social media, messaged my contacts, shared Pit Stop’s FB Facebook postings to create awareness and post regular updates of my campaign. There were many friends who supported me, including an ex-staff who I hadn’t contacted for more than 10 years. I was pleasantly surprised to see her donation with message that I inspired her, in the fundraising page. I uploaded photos of our meal sponsor and volunteering at Pit Stop onto my social media. My friends saw my commitment and donations kept flooding in and reached my target of RM2,708 by 8.00am on my birthday! As you can imagine, I was ecstatic! I am so thankful for the support and by the end of the campaign, I raised RM3,583 which is 32% above my target. I felt proud yet humbled by the entire experience. It was a meaningful and memorable birthday with lots of love and warmth. It really is the best gift ever!" - Saw Leng

"As an avid sportsman, I strongly believe in the spirit of competition and the necessity to continuously improve. As Eliud Kipchoge once said, “No human is limited”. I was very eager to embody Eliud’s mindset as I contested in many marathons over a short period of time. Training and racing became a permanent fixture in my schedule to the extend that I ignored the obvious signs of over-exertion. Then it finally happened; I suffered a torn ligament injury. Due to the severity of the injury, I required surgery, if I ever wanted to move freely again. The operation was a complete success, but the post recovery period thereafter was some of the darkest times of my life. I struggled to perform simple daily movements, and this really affected my state of mind. I performed all the rehabilitation exercises for weeks, but improvements were negligible. I was beginning to think that running will no longer be a possibility. However, I remained positive and through the support from my family, friends and doctors, I started to notice more significant improvements after 6 months of physical therapy. It gave me hope and I finally achieved full recovery after 9 months. My experience dealing with this injury thought me the necessity to derive a greater purpose from everything we do. Essentially, we need to go beyond ourselves and start focusing on the community. Hence, I engaged with Simply Giving to formulate a plan that provided me an avenue to raise awareness on HIV whilst doing what I love. As the public’s understanding of HIV remains much to be desired, I felt something must be done, especially at the grassroots level, to fully address this problem. Thus far, working with Simply Giving has presented me with ample opportunities to serve the public as I look forward to more in the future. Be a part of the fight to end AIDS with me!" - Jeff Lau

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but rather he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela I was in an emotionally abusive relationship and I did not even know it. Is that even possible, you may ask? Well, the initial stage of my relationship was amazing. I suppose that’s why it’s regarded as the “honeymoon” stage. As we were very much in love with one another, I may have subconsciously allowed and accepted inappropriate behaviour from him on many occasions. As the love dust faded, I started taking notice and questioning myself if this was the same person I fell for years ago? Is this love? Despite his actions, I continued to be loyal and faithful whilst zealously believing that he still loved me. However, I was sadly mistaken as my resolve finally broke one evening during one of his episodes. I left and never looked back since. Although I freed myself from further emotional trauma, my life became extremely challenging as I was homeless and had very little money. Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope appeared a few years later as I secured a permanent job in the fashion industry. I knew then that my life was about to turn around for the better. My torrid past led me down this current path, which is inspiring women across the globe to fight for what they believe in. As part of my mission, I even shaved my head while collaborating with SimplyGiving to raise funds for the Indonesia Medika Foundation. Being bald may be a hindrance while working in fashion but I believe my message to the world supersedes that. If you are keen to explore more of my work or assist me in my future quests to spread awareness on suicide and depression, do check out my Vlogs at https://bit.ly/2BaqQyo. Stand up for what is right and be that change you want to see in the world!" - Rina

"As I was growing up, I believed that one’s economic and social status were essential factors to affect wide societal change. After all, money makes the world go round and almost everything required money. However, my world view and perspective changed since I started working at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a journalist. As part of my work, I have witnessed many acts of cruelty taking place daily around the world. It was indeed a real eye opener as I thought to myself “How can I just watch this and do absolutely nothing?”. It was then that I decided to be proactive in making the world a better place. I have since participated in numerous campaigns advocating against racial discrimination, socioeconomic inequality and human trafficking as well as protecting women and children from sexual abuse. It may seem inconsequential or merely small steps, but I truly felt it was in the right direction. After all, everyone has the capacity to create positive change in society. It simply requires consistent and concerted effort. Having said that, I decided to do something different for my birthday celebration this year. Instead of arranging the usual birthday gathering, I would be organizing a fundraiser for SUKA Society’s Empowered2Teach project. According to the Society’s research from 2001 to 2007, approximately 7,000 Orang Asli children in Peninsula Malaysia never set foot in primary school and for those who did, only about 55%-65% proceeded to secondary level. Their objective is to empower the indigenous teachers with the essential resources and hence, enabling them to educate more efficiently. Love, kindness and compassion are human necessities. Let’s share them generously." - Neryssa Azlan

"I grew up in a very poor family and my parents had to work very hard just to make ends meet. As money was carefully spent on necessities only, we could not afford many life luxuries like the television or even a radio. Thus, I spent most of my free time cycling in nature whilst exploring the seaside and hills. My travels to these places often gave me peace or left me with a sense of wonder. I suppose that’s why I never grew tired of them. To this day, my passion for the outdoors never dwindled. Instead, it only grew stronger as I aged. For instance, I saved up money to buy a better bicycle as my old one was giving way. The new bicycle would allow me to do cross country riding, something I yearned for at the time. Furthermore, I even took my diving license which enabled me to explore a whole new paradise under the sea. Who knew the underwater world would be so breathtaking? And last but definitely not least, I initiated a plan back in 2010 to fulfill my lifelong dream of riding all around the world. Reduction in life commitments and my kids having all grown up presented me with the ideal conditions. This journey took 7 years to plan and I knew there were many obstacles to conquer. To date, I have travelled to many unchartered territories, slept under the stars and faced life threatening situations but I have never once wavered from my initial decision. My goal is not complete but being driven purely by passion, I fully intend to see it through. Visit my Facebook page (https://bit.ly/31xyPAj) to receive updates on all my adventures or donate to my cause at http://bit.ly/2oxwHLB" - Peter Yoong

“I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It’s all a question of how I view my life.” – Paulo Coelho We each met Ramanan at different stages of our lives. He was this friendly guy with an infectious smile and charisma; it was evident when you look at his extremely wide circle of friends. A fierce believer in living life to the fullest, he was the bravest soul we have ever met. Ramanan was first diagnosed with cancer in 2005. It was devastating at the time as he was still relatively young but with his positive attitude, Ramanan improved over time and a full recovery was in sight. Everything was going great, but life had a different plan as his cancer relapsed in 2016. Family members and friends rallied to him in his valiant fight, which he undertook with everything he had. He married the love of his life, started a business, played the game he loved (football) and above all, maintained the same optimistic outlook on life. That was Ramanan in the face of adversity. On 13 September 2018, his condition deteriorated and Ramanan told us, ‘See you later.’ Although his passing left a huge void for everyone, Ramanan has and always will be, a huge inspiration. And this is what spurred us to create ‘Bigger Than King Kong’ - a peer initiative football fundraiser inspired by Ramanan’s approach to life. The aim was to help the fight against cancer through fundraising initiatives, supporting areas where funds are lacking, be it for treatment, research or creating awareness. The inaugural event successfully raised RM32,697 for MAKNA - Majlis Kanser Nasional. Spurred on from last year, this year’s fundraiser on 2 November at Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Club (8am to 4pm) will benefit National Cancer Society Malaysia. We hope to make this an annual event and for the proceeds to make a real difference in the fight against this disease!

"Hello everyone, my name is Chong and I am the co-founder of the community program called Zero to Hero. As a very young student living in Malaysia, it is very common to be ridiculed for the work that we do in our program. However, my friend Chloe and I learned that one is never too small to make a difference especially as we all live in a very dangerous world today. The entire ecosystem is hanging on a very delicate balance, but no real action is being initiated by those in power to ensure the future and sustainability of all living beings. As Mother Nature continues to be plundered to enrich the select few, topics on economic growth or celebrity gossips continue to be in the headlines relative to the occasional whispers of the impending environmental emergency. Everyone knows about the danger, but no one wants to talk about it, simply because it is not popular or newsworthy. This was the core foundation behind Zero to Hero where our main objective is to raise funds and environmental awareness for the Global Environment Centre. We are very fortunate to have lots of support from our parents and Simply Giving thus far, as we continue to scale our journey to greater heights. There is no more time and we are running out of excuses. Let’s act now before it’s really too late." - Chong

"The lack of tolerance and selfishness have caused grief in this world as humanity continues to inflict pain and sufferings on themselves, animals and our planet, through their lack of compassion and empathy. What type of Earth will our children inherit? Will they be breathing clean air in 20 years whilst we feed on our greed to selfishly exploit nature’s gift? Are we really expecting others to come and save us? What are we teaching our children about empathy when we consistently turn a blind eye to the suffering of others? It would be very meaningful to me if I could help to change ONE life. As a trained and qualified lawyer from England and operating my own private practice as well as consultancy work for many years, I have since shifted my focus to other purposeful endeavours involving animals and children’s welfare, as well as eradicating homelessness. For instance, I have started a foundation aimed at helping animals, especially dogs and I am also the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Greenacre Capital Ltd. Despite living in England for a long time, my heart still belongs to Malaysia and I have always wanted to give back to my home country. This was my motivation to running the Marathon des Sable whilst raising funds for both children and animals related charities. Although my campaign was a great success, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Cheryl from SimplyGiving for the unwavering support and solid advice throughout my journey. SimplyGiving has made it so accessible for everyone who wants to raise funds or donate. Simply visit their official website, enter your payment details and voila, all done! Everyone can make a difference. Start small but start today, with SimplyGiving! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to rest my post marathon feet!" - Datin Sue Ding

"As an avid traveller and free spirit, I am always eager to explore new experiences and adventures. Therefore, the concept of staying put and settling down in one place just seemed so alien to me. Well, at least until recently, when I decided to uproot my entire life to a remote resort island in Indonesia! Free from the hustle and bustle of the city, I thought a remote island lifestyle would enable me to find my life purpose and perhaps, to eventually making it my home away from home. Afterall, my nomadic lifestyle must end someday, right? Living on the remote resort island of Bawah, and working with Medang4Change changed my entire life perspective. Adhering to a simple and minimalistic lifestyle, I discovered the meaning of true fulfilment and the necessity of maintaining balance within our natural surroundings. This is the embodiment and vision of the island’s community in Medang. As a longstanding partner with Simply Giving, we have previously raised funds to purchase a pyrolysis machine which allowed us to turn waste into natural fuel. As for our next fundraising campaign, we aim to improve the irrigation and water filtration system as well as other essential green initiatives. Focus less on taking but more on giving!" - Lisa

"Hello, my name is Kapil and I work in Sales and Marketing at Intel. My journey with charity and fundraising date back to 2011 where my colleagues and I first met our Vice President, Uday Marty. In addition to being an avid runner and mountain climber, Uday was also a firm believer in giving back to the community. For instance, he was an ambassador and supporter of The Nature Conservancy and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Uday was often seen complementing his passion for running and hiking with raising awareness and funds for these organizations. To put it quite simply, it was the perfect combination of purpose and passion. Unfortunately, Uday perished under in avalanche during his climb up Mount Rainier in 2014. It was not only a sad moment for the company to have to lose someone of his stature, but it was also a tremendous loss especially to those whose lives were touched by his kindness and encouragement. 5 years on, many of us at Intel are still feeling the magnitude of his passing, even to this day. One such person is Lilian Heng who can still recall how vividly Uday has inspired her throughout the years. As a testament to his contribution to society, some of us have decided to continue with Uday’s work with his personal charities, and it has been an absolute privilege thus far. Although this great man has passed on, his legacy continues to this day. “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy”. I believe that was Uday’s mantra and we will carry that message with us for the rest of our lives." - Kapil Bansal

"I first met my best friend, Darius while I was still in school. We used to enjoy many adventures together and always had each other’s back when the going gets tough. We were very close to the point where we regarded each other as family. Unfortunately, our friendship was short lived, as Darius succumbed to Leukemia at a very early age. As I was still very young, this tragedy struck me very badly as I became a hollow shell of my former self. Eventually, time healed most of the pain. Darius’ passing also showed me my life purpose which was to pursue medicine and help others. My time in medicine then revealed to me a distinct absence of care and support for terminal patients. Curing and caring in medicine go hand in hand, so why would this be any different? This prompted my decision to establish the organization "Make A Child Smile Today (MACST)" and initiate the “Hey Buddy” programme. The objective of the programme is to create a comfortable environment, facilitating them to cope with their final days. We'd organise activities or simply lend a listening ear to the patients. Today, MASCT has grown to almost 40 fully trained members and we are extremely grateful to the SimplyGiving team for helping us on this amazing journey. As we continue to expand our work, we are constantly on the lookout for any additional assistance. So, do join us as a volunteer at https://www.facebook.com/MakeAChildSmileToday/ or donate to our cause here: https://www.simplygiving.com/PersonalFundraising/macst" - Jerry Song

"I have always loved travelling and writing, I knew that I wanted to use my journalistic skills to help society. I like being able to give voice to the voiceless. To date, I have done two fundraisers using SimplyGiving’s online fundraising platform. It all started when I went on a backpacking trip to Nepal eight years ago. I knew I was home when I landed in Nepal, everything was so familiar to me, it was a homecoming. People in Nepal are inherently forbearing and kind. I learnt from them that lasting and genuine happiness comes from sincerely doing good. Ever since then, I have decided to live a purposeful life, to live more boldly and take more risks. I was inspired to make a difference. I do not just wait for change to happen. I want to be a driver of change to make sure ideas do not just remain ideas. I worked with a Nepali friend Bishwas Khatiwada who wants to give back to the community through charity. Through him, I managed to find the schools and the communities that need support. In four years, we have distributed mosquito nets to 889 earthquake-affected families and delivered schooling necessities to about 500 students in two public schools. I hope all of us can muster our courage and start to make the best of our lives. Lend us a hand or pledge your support at https://bit.ly/2Ou3Zp3! - June Moh

Food is a basic human necessity but despite all our technological advancements and economic resources, severe hunger is still a widespread phenomenon even to this day. So, this year, I decided to donate my birthday to The Lost Food Project. The Lost Food Project rescues quality, nutritious food that would otherwise end up in landfill, and redistribute this food to those who need it most – regardless of religion, gender, age, disability or ethnic group - and I truly believe in their mission. To be honest, I was really surprised by the support I received from my family and friends. It was a really heart-warming experience! You can be part of this effort too! Join us by donating or fundraising to The Lost Food Project using the SimplyGiving platform and help “feed the hungry not the landfill”! - Xin Pei

"I have always been a fitness enthusiast and running junkie. One day, I decided to do something more. I wanted to inspire budding runners and it led me to starting up Summersault Running Costumes. What started out as a humble blog shop years ago is now a full-fledged online and offline business. Today, Summersault sells specialised running apparel like superhero costumes and tutus and our products have been seen at the Malaysia Women Marathon, The Running Diva Malaysia Pinktober 2019 JB and many more! I must say, it feels extremely fulfilling looking back at my entrepreneurial journey. As my business stabilised, I started exploring ways to give back to the community. I combined my passion with that intent and started a fundraising campaign called #Pledge2Tutu. The idea is simple; to raise funds and pledge to wear a tutu and run. The colour of the tutu would represent the cause a runner believes in. For instance, I raised RM1,268 for the Women's Aid Organisation and wore a red tutu during the Janda Baik Ultra 30km run (bit.ly/pledge2tutulily). Another runner named Rija Gubes raised RM1,045 for Kirtarsh and wore a yellow tutu. Some might find it strange, but I think wearing a costume is a powerful way to raise awareness on social issues! I would like to express my gratitude to SimplyGiving for connecting me with the beneficiaries of the #Pledge2Tutu campaign. SimplyGiving made fundraising such a breeze and I am excited to continue this journey with them. Let’s continue to spread love and inspire kindness all over the world." - Lily Sim

"As an architect, I am naturally concerned and mindful about the environment. I strongly believe this should be the direction for humanity as our Earth’s natural resources continue to deplete on a daily basis. Having done my undergraduate thesis on disaster relief architecture, the devastation brought on by the 2018 Lombok, Indonesia earthquake, prompted me and my friend Madison to co-found The Shelter Project. Madison is co-owner of the well known plant-based restaurant in Bali, Peloton. Her awareness of ethical and sustainable practice in both work and life is what drew us together. The Lombok earthquake killed hundreds and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Basic amenities and resources became incredibly scarce and the need for temporary housing was soon evident. The tents and makeshift housing provided by governments and other NGOs were quickly proving to be insufficient. Madison and I wanted to develop a sustainable temporary housing alternative, which was based on a local community based approach. All materials would be purchased in Lombok to minimise our carbon footprint, and those affected would be involved throughout the entire construction process. In 8 months, we successfully built 65 houses, each one equipped with functioning electricity, a rainwater collection system, a water filtration system and a water tank. Materials remained natural and easy to source, allowing us to recirculate money into the island's economy. SimplyGiving was vital in facilitating interested donors - it is only with their platform that we have managed to raise more than USD50,000 for The Shelter Project’s first goal. Given the success of our first project, Madison and I look forward to starting goal 002 at the end of this year, especially with Simply Giving’s ongoing help. SimplyGiving has provided a very user-friendly platform which makes fundraising accessible whilst initiating beneficial projects for all mankind." - Jasmine

"My work at SG Global, the largest donor management agency in the world has been a very fulfilling journey thus far. In addition to supporting fundraising campaigns throughout Asia, we also assist in removing the administrative burden charities face so they can focus on what matters to them most – their cause. Having switched several industries over the years, I am grateful to have found meaningful work which creates a lasting social impact. As part of our work with SimplyGiving, we were inspired reading through previous campaigns and moving stories on the platform. Along with 2 colleagues of mine, we decided to incorporate a new dimension towards our never ending fitness goals. We decided to start a campaign named “Chafing for Charity” which looked to raise funds for UNICEF Malaysia (https://bit.ly/2ZNOUCP). As part of the campaign, we would be competing in our first ever half-iron man event. Hosted in Da Nang, Vietnam, we set our sights on completing the 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run and raising as much money as possible for our cause. Needless to say, it was definitely a challenging task but we all completed the race successfully, and in the process raised a little over RM13,000 for the charity. It was extremely empowering to be able to donate to a cause we felt strongly about. If you are looking for a platform to initiate a fundraiser or simply looking for causes to pledge to, look no further than SimplyGiving!" - Zander

"Hi, I’m Aiden. Back in 2018, my mother visited a school in rural Sabah and when she came back, she shared stories about the lives of the children that go to those schools. I was very touched by the stories and decided to do something. I decided to raise funds to equip the school with some computers so that they can learn essential computing skills and be exposed to new ways of learning and have fun too. Thanks to the support of my family and friends, I managed to raise RM15,000 (https://bit.ly/37D5LuX). Today, technological advancements have changed the entire learning and education landscape. Gone are the days where one needed to physically go to school for education. Therefore, it is imperative that we leverage on this breakthrough to reach those with limited or no access to formal education. Having said that, there are some of us who disregard or take for granted, the importance of schooling. This saddened me greatly especially when I have seen kids in Africa needing to walk for miles to their schools and yet, their enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. When I’m older, I plan on building a learning facility, either a school or a sports camp, where children of all abilities can learn together and from one other. I believe everyone has something to offer and thus, should be given equal opportunity to do so. I am on this path after drawing inspiration from my two greatest role models; my Mother and Greta Thunberg. My mother’s work on women empowerment and Greta’s call to action for climate and environment reforms have shown me that anyone can contribute to making this world a better place. Moreover, I strongly believe that we should invest in the younger generation as they have a lot of potential and we should prepare them to inherit the world we live in today. Last but definitely not least, thank you to SimplyGiving for the accessibility and assistance, ensuring my cause was a resounding success." - Aiden

"My name is Riess and I am 11-years-old. I was introduced to a single mother named Susanti who, after being ill for over a month and following some unpleasant discoveries, was informed by her doctor that she has breast cancer. Because of her illness, Susanti has not been able to support her family for over a month now as she isn't able to open her chicken rice stall in the PPR flats (low cost flats) where she lives. I believe that poverty is the root cause of many problems in the world today. The scale and magnitude of poverty is huge, and it will definitely take time and resources to address it. Nevertheless, I think we should still do what we can to help alleviate the problem. This is why I organised a charity football match and raised RM17,660 for Susanti. The charity football match might not seem like much in addressing this global issue but it is a significant steppingstone to me. After all, a little bit goes a long way! Fundraising for Susanti taught me about teamwork as well as the need to understand others. Moving forward, I aim to work with other non-profit organisations to make a difference in someone else's life and to learn and improve. I am very appreciative of the strong support and encouragement from my friends and family, especially my mother. She works in a non-profit organisation and she is a true inspiration! Lastly, I would like to thank SimplyGiving for providing an easily accessible platform. SimplyGiving helped me to reach out to friends and strangers near and far in just a short time." - Riess

"The Yayasan Chow Kit programme was first initiated for volunteers to teach English in a public day care centre in Chow Kit. As one of the volunteers at the centre, we felt honoured and privileged to be given this opportunity to improve the lives of these children. Having said that, we wanted to do more for them especially with regards to their living conditions. Therefore, we engaged with the Kuala Lumpur social services department in order to develop support systems for food, education, healthcare and shelter services. To date, this initiative has expanded to other centres involving teenagers and babies. We are extremely proud and passionate of our work as we have been working with kids for a very long time. This has definitely introduced new purpose and meaning in our lives. Lastly, the greatest satisfaction we can derive from this project is knowing these kids will be given the right opportunities to succeed in their lives." - Dr Hartini and Ananti

"I have worked for several years in the private education industry and like most education institutions, it is a melting pot of cultures and life values. Having said that, I was never active in any organisations. However, things took a turn recently. My mom was battling against cancer for the past 2 years before finally succumbing to the disease. Although I have made some peace with her passing, not a day goes by that I don’t miss her presence. My mom has always been a fighter and she demonstrated it until her very last moments with us. Her brave fighting spirit and indomitable will power inspired me to want to improve things in this world. To honor her, I chose to raise funds for the MAKNA - Majlis Kanser Nasional (https://bit.ly/2ZLeQyZ). In addition to spreading awareness on patient care, improving research and development as well as encouraging more affordable treatment for the masses, it is my dream that we will one day live in a cancer-free world. SimplyGiving has certainly facilitated my success in this project. This is just the beginning as I look forward to working together and driving more initiatives in support of cancer fighters. Let's Cancel Cancer together!" - Yik Yang

They say that this world is filled with things that will never make sense. My story started way back when my friends and I attended one of BTS’s concert in the Philippines. Having planned this trip for many months prior, you could imagine our excitement of finally being able to meet our idols, especially RM! While we there, we also made a few new friends who were also going to the concert and although we only just met, all of us connected as if we have known each other for years. After the concert, we vowed to remain in contact with each other and over time, our friendship only grew stronger. In fact, our group grew larger as we introduced our mutual friends to each other. Then during one of our group discussions, someone came up with an idea of showcasing our support for our beloved RM. After much brainstorming, we thought it would be fitting to initiate a tree planting project. Afterall, RM’s lyrics and songs are very centred on the environment and his name in Korean also translates to “tree”! The project was a huge success as we surpassed our initial target and for that, we are ever so grateful to all the A.R.M.Y’s around the globe that have participated and supported us in this endeavour. We are also very appreciative of SimplyGiving in facilitating and assisting us on this project. Their online platform makes fundraising and community projects very accessible to everyone. With passion and support, anything is possible!