Kayak for Humanity - training days 2

This is tough! At times I wonder why was I suffering here but I have a message to send.... Awareness on organ donation!
Kayak for Humanity combines passions - all our passions in one. It is a youth outreach expedition to promote sea kayaking sports, create awareness in organ donation, sending messages on environment and nature preservation, and most importantly our team contributes to unity.
I love the unity part of this noble Kayak for Humanity expedition. The paddlers are mostly from Peninsular Malaysia and will help encourage better relationship among peninsular and the Borneo island - Sabah and Sarawak. This year we specifically chosen Sarawak for its diversity in culture and nature. Our team consists of Malays, Chinese, Indians, a Sabahan and also Sarawakian. Our team bonding has been strengthen in these just 6 days of training alone. We are ONE family!
It is tough for me especially a someone with one lobe of liver, one kidney and only one functioning ear. My abdomen still bears a large Mercedes scar and still lack of strength as I did not stretch it much after 2 years operation.
First it was a capsize drill. With whole body in the waters and my kayak overturned, I relaxed myself, grasp as much air possible and tried to turn the kayak over. I tried 5 times and failed. My team mates had to come over and overturn the kayak for me. I then needed to help myself by pushing my body up to the kayak, which I took long enough time to do it. I was afraid to stretch the Mercedes abdomen so much. However, yesterday we did another round of drill. I got a lighter kayak, and turned it in one try. And slowly climbed up the kayak and roll over to my seat. I did it!
It is not an easy struggle. Kayaking - long distance sea kayaking to be exact is no easy feat. People asked us what humanity got to do with kayaking. And what humanity do we do? In fact, humanity could mean many things to many people. For us, our passions are considered humanity works - ain't environment, organ donation, sports, youth development, and unity, humanity?
And what has kayaking has to do with humanity? I'm truly inspired by this article http://ow.ly/1be7nv - what has swimming gotta do with organ donation?
After struggling for 6 days, my skin colour is darker, I'm burnt, muscles all aching but it is my passion in organ donation that pushed me forward. Kayak for Humanity is organ donation and it is my passion. I want to proof that even a living donor could struggle and do long distance sea kayaking. I may be the last in the team most of the time but it is also unity among the team that pushed me forward!
I'm proud to be a part of this struggle and noble expedition and we will definitely make it! Please wish us well, pray for us and help us go through this expedition in Sarawak. I have also shaved my head as a pledge to the success of Kayak for Humanity! You can see my latest photos at http://facebook.com/hoongling
So far, we have financial assistance from GREAT People Sdn Bhd, accommodation and training place at Kolej Uniti, secretariat and accommodation by Ministry of Youth and Sports, a friend sponsoring RM500 and my Dad also RM500.
We need more support! We have applied for financial assistance from Ministry of Youth and Sports and hope to get the funds approval soon.
If you could help, please help sponsor me (yes, it is a personal request) cloud 9 (somehow this chocolate could give instant energy), Snickers chocolates, instant noodle, drinking water, ORS, sunblock, tights, muffler or face cover and the least I would expect is cash sponsorship.
Thank you in advanced! :)

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Kayak for Humanity - training days

Today is only day 2 of our training. This is an intensive training, whereby after the training our team will embark on an expedition in Sarawak - probably Miri or Bintulu to Kuching. The expedition could take 15 to 25 days depending on sea condition.

Yes, we are not kayaking in the river but I'm currently doing sea kayaking.

Yesterday's training was a little push for my stamina, and helped me fit physically. Almost our whole body was worked out. Today we did the same exercise and by evening, we were already commissioned our kayaks, and went on paddling in the sea.



Magnificent Mother Nature

One very magnificent view we saw was the Mother Nature. If you have seen any pictures with sea view (as if drawn from a fisherman's boat), with trees and greens, as well as small little homes and the bluish, orangie sky with a round moon... That's almost it. And it is Chap Goh Mei today so the moon is round and full!



Tiring but worth it

Having all muscles aching by now, even difficulty climbing stairs, walking like an elephant by now.... All is worth it and I truly believe that the expedition will surely be exciting and great!

Follow @kayak4humanity and @hoongling on Twitter for more information.


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Teh tarik berbuih RM1.30, mulut berbuih tak ternilai harganya

Sering kali kebelakangan ini, tetiba saya menjadi lebih terkenal dari dulu. Bukannya tidak pernah menikmati kehidupan 'glamour', maklumlah saya bekas pengacara televisyen untuk Selamat Pagi Malaysia.

Tetapi kali ini, 'glamour' itu tertumpu kepada bab pendermaan organ saya kepada seorang budak perempuan yang tidak saya kenali. Acapkali saya melihat orang terkejut, tergamam dan tercengang sebentar apabila diperkenalkan sebagai 'Hoong Ling yang pernah mendermakan hati kepada seseorang yang tidak dikenali'.

Pada mulanya memang rasa janggal apabila berdepan dengan reaksi begini tetapi lambat laun saya jadikan topik pengenalan itu sebagai kempen derma organ mini. Setiap kali diperkenalkan yang say telah menderma hati kepada orang lain, saya mulalah menjadi perisai peluru - bertalu-talu soalan ditujukan.

'Ha? Derma hati? Jadi takde hatilah sekarang!?' 'Wah penerima hati itu pasti orang yang kau sayang rapat kan?' 'Ye ke? Hati boleh diderma masa masih hidup?'

Teh tarik satu! Berbuih bukan teh tarik, berbuih mulut menceritakan pengalaman. Kalau berbuih teh tarik tu kena bayar RM1.30, yang berbuih mulut bercerita tu, bayarlah sikit. Tapi saya tidak pula meminta bayaran, malah saya memberi...... Satu borang derma organ setiap seorang.

Barulah nampak pelbagai reaksi lagi, banyaklah soalan yang bertalu-talu! Namun, jika salah seorang mengisi borang dan berjaya menjadi pengikrar menderma organ, saya sudah berjaya. Nilai itu bukan setakat RM1.30, tak terhingga nilai itu walaupun yang dikembalikan itu cuma sekeping borang derma organ yang telah diisi.

Sesi teh tarik saya kini banyak menjadi kempen mini pendermaan organ. Walaupun cara ini lambat tetapi lebih bermakna dan dapat memudahkan orang ramai mengisi dan mengembalikan borang ikrar derma organ demi menjadi seorang pengikrar.

Nak cuba membuihkan mulut saya, mudah je.... Teh tarik berbuih RM1.30 je.. :)



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