ISKANDAR PUTERI, Johor (2 February 2024) — Zachary William Taylor, a 16-year-old student at Marlborough College Malaysia, has successfully completed an 85km run along the coast of Singapore, raising RM5,000 for cancer treatment. This endeavour is supported by Gleneagles Hospital Johor (GHJ) with the objective of providing financial aid for patients diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer cancer.

The raised funds are earmarked for the Breast Cancer Support Group (BCSG), Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation (TLJCF), and iCare Cancer Support Association Johor (iCare), directly benefiting 25 individuals in need of cancer treatment. This notable shift in the initiative’s focus was driven by a collaborative decision, aiming to address the accessibility of treatment in the community.

Zachary, driven by a profound passion to make a difference, embarked on this challenging journey, completing the run in an impressive 15.5 hours. His fundraising page, hosted on gogetfunding.com, has garnered significant attention and support, reflecting the community's admiration for his efforts.

Gleneagles Hospital Johor has expressed its commitment to support such commendable initiatives. “We are incredibly proud to be part of Zachary’s journey. His dedication to helping those in need aligns perfectly with our mission at GHJ. It is through the efforts of such dedicated individuals that the community can have accessibility to care, and this is important for healthcare in Johor to continue to grow,” said Dr. Kamal Amzan, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital Johor and Regional CEO of Southern and Eastern Hospitals at IHH Malaysia.

In light of such an inspiring initiative, GHJ will also provide RM5,000 to match the amount that Zachary has raised. It is a commitment to the community that the Hospital will continue to take pride and lead Johor’s healthcare to even greater heights.

Zachary’s mother, Professor Rebecca Taylor, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, and the CEO of the University of Southampton Malaysia, expressed her pride and hope that this donation will inspire others to take similar actions for charitable causes. ‘Looking at how Zachary’s dedication can directly bring a positive impact to the lives of others is truly heartwarming. We hope this encourages more young people to believe that they can make a significant difference too,” she remarked.

Together, we can create a tightly knit community and ecosystem for a better Johor.