PRIME Staff and Students Lend a Helping Hand to Darvin

(L-R) Vijendran Arulrajah, Principal of PRIME College USJ, Darvin in the arms of his father, Selvandram, Mrs. Selvandram, and Patrick Wong.

29th September 2005 The heartbreaking illness of a two year old boy touched the hearts of the staff and students of PRIME College USJ. Darvin A/L Selvandram suffers from an illness that affects his facial nerves and muscles where he is not able to close his eyes. This illness has also affected his hearing and speech abilities. Surgery costing RM100,000 is needed, but his father who earns a modest income is not able to afford the high price. According to Patrick Wong, Head of Student Services Department of PRIME College, the decision to run a 3 day donation drive for Darvin was a decent way of lending a helping hand. “We read in the newpapers of Darvin's plight and we, the staff and students, felt we had to do something to ease the suffering of this little boy,” said Wong.

“Imagine trying to sleep but unable to close your eyes, wanting to taste and savour food but restricted to a soft diet of cereal, wanting to speak words to communicate with your mother but unable to do so.”

“This is what Darvin is experiencing each day, and his only means of getting better is through surgery that costs a lot,” said Wong. “That is why we decided to have a donation drive to gather as much money as we can to help this little boy.”

The donation drive was launched during PRIME Time, a tradition in PRIME were each Wednesday lunch hour is dedicated to students to run all sorts of activities. Activities held during PRIME Time vary from games, mini tournaments, talks and sometimes donation drives.

Hearing Mrs. Selvandram's touching appeal to help contribute to her son's surgery had the staff and students giving generously and willingly. The money collected would be used for surgery on Darvin's eyes and face.

“We believe in cultivating a caring society within the college and have helped many charities. This is part of our staff and student activities and contribution are always directly channelled to the organisations or cause we labour for,” said Wong.

The students and staff managed to raise RM1,200 during the charity drive.

“We are thankful for the contribution by the staff and students of PRIME College . It will be part of our collection for our boy's surgery. We thank you and may God bless you all,” said Mr. Selvandram gratefully.