Be Frank & Help Beat Cancer...

Be Frank is the continuation from 2012's The Ultimate Race for Cancer Research campaign which tells my story as a cancer survivor and my passion of running in uniting sports and cancer research. The below is the press release to this year's campaign being Be Frank.

This is a story of Frank Chong, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects muscle and connective tissues at the tender age of 12. Today, he has accomplished what was seemingly impossible, he has trained as long distance runner and is now an ultra-marathon runner

This campaign captures the very essence of Frank himself. His dedication to support cancer research by fund raising through his ‘The Ultimate Race for Cancer Research’, his courage in facing up to the cancer which has affected him and his determination to support cancer awareness by speaking up about cancer.

His journey began together with CARIF in year 2012 when he successfully conquered the world’s oldest and probably toughest road ultra marathon running the distance of 89.7KM at the Comrades Marathon 2012, South Africa. This year, together with CARIF once again, Frank will attempt yet again the Comrades Marathon on 2nd June 2013, running the reverse route “Up hill” to complete the finisher’s medal. Like his “Down hill” run last year, he will again dedicate this year’s “Up hill” run of the Comrades Marathon towards cancer.

So, let's Be Frank and Fund Raise for Cancer Research.

Join us in our fund raising efforts for cancer research. You can support Frank's Ultimate Race for Cancer Research by direct donations to Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation or by purchasing the official Be Frank - TURCR t-shirts at RM60.00 each which is made available at Running Lab, Tropicana City Mall and CARIF main laboratory at Outpatient Centre, Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya.

Or you can be like Frank and use your passion and interests to fund raise for cancer research. Be it a cupcake sale in the office or shaving your head to raise funds, we will support you and help you achieve your target. Contact us at www.befrank.com.my for more information.

Thank you and we hope to have your support for this campaign!

About CARIF (Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation)

CARIF came from a humble beginning. In 1997, Professor Stephen Prime, an eminent oral cancer pathologist and researcher from the University of Bristol approached Tan Sri Tunku Ahmad Yahaya, CEO of Sime Darby Berhad and a Bristol alumni, about the possibility of raising funds to conduct oral cancer research. Oral cancer affects mostly Asians, particularly those in South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and was not receiving attention by the major pharmaceutical industry or by funding agencies in the UK. Tan Sri Tunku in turn roped in Dr Teo Soo Hwang, a Yayasan Sime Darby Scholar who graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge. At that time, Dr Teo was doing her post-doctoral research. Over the next 2 years, she worked with Tan Sri Tunku Ahmad and Toh Puan Aishah Ong to raise funds for a new cancer research organisation in Malaysia.

CARIF then

CARIF was incorporated as company limited by guarantee in June 2000 with the support and donation from these key individuals and organisations: Tan Sri Azizan and Tan Sri Hassan Merican (PETRONAS), Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay and Mrs Leong Lim Siew Lian (Genting) and Tan Sri Tunku Ahmad Yahaya. Tote Board had also donated RM2 million, while PETRONAS had donated RM1 million and Yayasan Lim donated RM1 million for 4 years.

The CARIF laboratory was established in Sime Darby Medical Centre (then known as Subang Jaya Medical Centre) in Jan 2001. With just a temporary laboratory of 700 sq ft and only 6 scientists, the first months were focussed on establishing collaborations to begin Malaysian cancer research. In August 2002, CARIF moved into a custom-made facility of 2,500 sq ft and the facilities have been provided, rent-free by Sime Darby Medical Centre. CARIF was officially launched by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in October 2002.

CARIF now

Today, we are a 33-strong all-Malaysian team of researchers consists of: 7 PhD scientists, 14 MSc scientists, 9 graduate scientists and 3 support staff, and our numbers are growing. Many of our staff are training and obtaining Masters and PhD’s in cancer research. CARIF will continue to invest in recruiting, retaining and training the nation’s most talented and highly-skilled scientists in our fight against cancer.