{"id":1580,"date":"2026-07-19T09:48:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T01:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/?p=1580"},"modified":"2026-08-24T09:55:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T01:55:47","slug":"one-mans-2200km-journey-to-support-children-battling-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/one-mans-2200km-journey-to-support-children-battling-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"One man\u2019s 2,200km journey to support children battling cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLim Shyang Guey ran 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia to raise awareness and funds for children battling cancer through NCSM.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMOST runners measure their journey by distance covered and the moment they cross the finish line. For Lim Shyang Guey (pic), the most meaningful moments happened long before he reached the end.\n

\nAfter nearly three months on the road covering 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia, Lim completed his Run for Gold (RFG) at the Penang Free School on June 21.\n

\nBut for him, the finish line was never the destination.\n

\nThe real victories came along the way \u2013 at roadside warungs, humble coffee shops and small stalls where strangers stopped to listen, share a meal, offer encouragement and sometimes, extend a helping hand.\n

\nLim could have chosen the easier route \u2013 run faster and finish earlier to avoid the harsh midday heat.\n

\nInstead, he deliberately slowed down.\n

\n\u201cI could finish my run (for the day) in six hours and then go home before it got too hot, but I refused to do that.\n

\n\u201cEvery time I see a warung, I will go and talk to them and tell them about the children suffering from cancer,\u201d he told theSun.\n

\nFor Lim, the 2,200km journey was never merely about endurance. It was about creating awareness and raising support for children battling cancer through National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM).\n

\n\u201cIf I ran too quickly, I would miss out on many opportunities to connect with people,\u201d he said.\n

\nThose conversations often turned into unexpected acts of kindness.\n

\nSome people bought him breakfast, while others contributed cash donations, which he transferred directly to NCSM.\n

\nHe mentioned one coffee shop owner who donated RM500, while another covered almost the entire bill for a meal for him and his support crew.\n

\n\u201cI learnt the need for sharing. It doesn\u2019t matter what it is. When you share with people, there will be some people who are touched by that, or who can help you,\u201d he said.\n

\nThe journey was also a personal tribute to his late wife, Goh Joo Lee, with whom he had originally planned the adventure.\n

\nThe idea was first conceived in 2020, when the couple hoped to walk around Peninsular Malaysia, covering about 20km a day while staying at Airbnb lodgings throughout the journey.\n

\nAfter Goh passed away, Lim came across British author and adventurer Laurence Carter\u2019s account of walking around the coasts of England and Wales following the death of his wife.\n

\nThe story resonated with him and inspired him to turn the unfinished dream into reality.\n

\nInstead of walking, Lim decided to run \u2013 reducing the journey from an estimated six months to about three.\n

\nBefore the challenge began, Lim and his support crew spent four days recceing the entire route, mapping out daily distances, accommodation, meeting points and logistics.\n

\nHis days began long before sunrise.\n

\nAt 3am, he would prepare a smoothie made from banana, avocado, peanut butter and yoghurt before meeting his support crew at the hotel lobby at 4am.\n

\nThe team would then drive back to the exact point where he had stopped the previous day, and Lim would resume the journey at 4.30am.\n\nHis first stop was usually after 5km for water, followed by a light snack at about the 10km mark.\n\nBreakfast came after another 5km to 8km at whichever nasi lemak, roti canai or bihun stall happened to be open.\n\n\u201cI covered between 35km and 40km on most days,\u201d he said.\n\nHowever, the physical demands eventually caught up with him.\n\nAfter crossing the 1,000km mark, Lim developed pain in his hip and leg. Concerned it could be linked to a previous hernia condition, he decided to walk 40km the following day instead of running.\n\nRecovery became part of his daily routine.\n\n\u201cI started to go for massages \u2013 Malay urut, traditional Chinese massages and even Thai massages. As long as I get the massage done, my body felt better,\u201d he said.\n\nHe even crossed into Thailand three times because he could not find suitable massage services on the Malaysian side of the border.\n\nDespite the challenges, Lim credited his four-member support crew for helping him complete the challenge, handling logistics and ensuring the journey continued smoothly.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlong the way, he also made unexpected friendships.\n

\nAmong them was Keith Sinclair, who has spent more than two years driving an American Dodge Challenger around the world to promote unity.\n

\nAfter Lim contacted him through Instagram, Sinclair joined him for part of the run in Kuala Lumpur before driving to Penang for the finale.\n

\n\u201cHe even displayed my donation QR code on his car to encourage contributions,\u201d said Lim.\n

\nThe campaign also attracted attention overseas.\n

\n\u201cI was pleasantly surprised when an Australian runner who recently completed a 5,000km run across India mentioned my name among the people who inspired him to run.\u201d\n

\nWhile the physical challenge has ended, Lim\u2019s mission continues.\n

\nThe RFG fundraising campaign has been extended until Aug 24 after raising close to RM800,000, allowing more Malaysians to support children undergoing cancer treatment.\n

\nLim hopes the campaign will surpass its RM1 million target.\n

\nThe funds will support NCSM\u2019s Children\u2019s Home of Hope (CHH) facilities in Penang, Perak and the Klang Valley, which provide accommodation and essential support services for children with cancer and their families.\n

\nNCSM managing director Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said demand for the society\u2019s accommodation services had grown significantly over the past four years, with utilisation rising from 3,426 bednights in 2022 to 12,650 in 2025.\n

\n\u201cEach bednight represents more than just a place to rest. It represents reassurance, stability and the comfort of being close to medical care during what can be an incredibly challenging period for families,\u201d he told theSun.\n

\nMurallitharan said children with cancer and their families face challenges beyond medical treatment, including lengthy treatment periods, repeated hospital visits, painful procedures and emotional stress.\n

\nParents may also have to take extended leave or stop working altogether to care for their children, creating additional financial pressure.\n

\n\u201cThe fear, uncertainty and stress of seeing a child go through cancer treatment can be extremely difficult for parents and caregivers. This is why comprehensive support is essential throughout the cancer journey,\u201d he said.\n

\nApart from accommodation, families often require transportation assistance, nutritional support, counselling, educational support and opportunities for children to continue playing and interacting despite their illness.\n

\nMurallitharan said although treatment may be available through public healthcare facilities, families still face expenses involving transport, accommodation, meals and daily necessities, alongside lost income.\n

\n\u201cFor families who are already financially vulnerable, these costs can become overwhelming.\n

\n\u201cFinancial support allows parents to focus more on their child\u2019s recovery rather than worrying about whether they can afford the basic needs required throughout treatment,\u201d he said.\n

\nAccording to the World Health Organisation, about 400,000 children and adolescents below 19 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.\n

\nThe Malaysia National Cancer Registry recorded 4,303 childhood cancer cases between 2012 and 2016, including 1,348 cases among children aged four and younger.\n

\nFor Lim, the journey was never only about completing 2,200km.It was about reminding people that even the smallest act of kindness can help a child and family facing one of life\u2019s toughest battles.\n

\n\u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be a limit to saving children\u2019s lives. The journey doesn\u2019t end at the finish line, and neither should our mission,\u201d he said.\n

\nThose wishing to contribute may donate via the NCSM Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad account (No. 6408-70010-04980-6) or visit the Run for Gold website.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle link: One man\u2019s 2,200km journey to support children battling cancer<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lim Shyang Guey ran 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia to raise awareness and funds for children battling cancer through NCSM.MOST runners measure their journey by distance covered and the moment they cross the finish line. For Lim Shyang Guey (pic), the most meaningful moments happened long before he reached the end. After nearly three months on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1580"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1586,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580\/revisions\/1586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runforgold.my\/ms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}