M-MY-00000225-12-2020

PETALING JAYA, January 11, 2021 – Recently, Rumah Solehah, a home for children living with HIV/AIDS received RM 34,100 from Roche in Malaysia in conjunction with Roche’s annual corporate social responsibility event, Roche Children’s Walk. This event was powered by more than 1,000 Roche employees from the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and the shared services division to raise funds to help improve the lives of underprivileged children.

Roche Children’s Walk is the company’s signature worldwide employee project. Since the first company walk in 2003, more than 230,000 Roche employees, worldwide, have raised over CHF 19 million in donations for children’s projects around the world. In 2019 itself, 25,000 employees across 169 sites in 76 countries participated in the Walk, a record year. This year, due to the pandemic situation, it was challenging than previous years, as most fund-raising activities had to be organized virtually. However, that did not deter the employees’ passion and enthusiasm when they proposed innovative and creative virtual fund-raising activities, like a concert, walks, bazaar, auctions for service, monetary donation, etc.

“Themed ‘Let’s Go!’, the Roche Children’s Walk is an important day in the Roche calendar. Not only does it unite employees from all over the world behind one good cause, but it also serves to remind us that each of us can have an impact and improve other people’s lives,” said Lance Duan, General Manager of Roche (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Lance also added, “In 2020, we helped raise funds for Rumah Solehah and we are glad to have this continuity with them once again. It was slightly more challenging for us, due to the pandemic situation, but I was pleased to see our Roche employees actively participating in various virtual fund-raising activities, as the funds raised will be able to help these children gain a better quality of life. These children need a lot of love, care and attention from the community instead of being shunned for their condition. I am truly humbled by the energy of my colleagues and their determination to make an impact in our local community, especially when there were a group of Roche volunteers who continuously visited the home to look into the needs of the children – truly exemplifying their commitment of Roche to be a socially responsible partner.”

“We are grateful that Roche partnered with us for the second year to raise funds for the children. Covid-19, imposition of MCO and RMCO affected our ability to carry our various annual fund raising activities. The contribution from Roche Malaysia will be helpful in meeting the needs of running the home - from providing the children with nutritious meals, medicines, tuition, visits to hospitals amongst others. We are most proud to share that contribution from Roche Children’s Walk in 2019 enabled one student to fulfil her culinary dream by enrolling in a baking course. It is heart-warming to see that with the current challenging times for businesses, companies like Roche still support underprivileged community with their generosity,” Matron Fadzilah Abdul Hamid, Head of Rumah Solehah

Rumah Solehah is a half way home for women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Since its inception in 1998, many women and children have “graduated” from the home. The home believes that HIV/AIDS is about fighting to survive and to lead a near normal life. The children and women need a lot of encouragement, motivation and positive thinking. The volunteers and trainers help the children, who are shunned by society, to get back into the community just like any normal children. The home also looks into the needs of the children’s daily medicines and vitamins.

The funds raised in Malaysia will be matched by the company for the global initiatives through the Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust (Re&Act), a legally independent charity. Re&Act partners with a variety of organisations, such as UNICEF and ActionAid Malawi, to support children’s education and health programmes in developing countries. Common initiatives supported by Roche Children’s Walk include education, nutrition, primary healthcare and social development programs.