Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia, the charity of choice for McDonald’s Malaysia is calling on Malaysians to help raise awareness on cleft lip and palate through its #CleftLipChallenge.
The challenge that began on 20 March seeks support towards RMHC Malaysia’s “Gift of Smile” Program that helps children born with cleft lip and palate to undergo corrective surgeries.
The #CleftLipChallenge encourages Malaysians to record their experience drinking with a slit straw, post the video on their social platforms and pass the challenge to others to do the same – with the aim to raise awareness on the difficulties faced by children born with cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and palate, or known as CLP, is one of the most common birth defects affecting children in Malaysia, with 1 in every 700 newborn babies in Malaysia diagnosed with CLP.
“Every child should experience a happy childhood and here at RMHC Malaysia, we are committed to ensuring these children have the opportunity to lead healthy and fun-filled lives. Through the #CleftLip Challenge, we want people to experience first-hand the challenges faced by babies or children living with CLP. We want to raise awareness among the public so that more people are informed of this issue and will hopefully donate to the “Gift of Smile” Program,” said Azmir Jaafar, President of RMHC Malaysia.
“Funds raised will be channeled to corrective surgeries for children born with CLP. As they grow up, these children will also have to undergo different stages of corrective operations to treat this birth defect. This would inevitably accumulate huge medical bills,” added Azmir. Since its inception in 2004, the “Gift of Smile” Program by RMHC Malaysia has injected more than RM5 million to help more than 700 children born with CLP to undergo corrective operations at 7 partnering hospitals nationwide.
Here’s how Malaysians can participate in the #CleftLip Challenge:
- Participants will need a paper straw and a glass of water
- Gently cut 2 slits on the drinking end of the straw
- Fill a clear glass with water (roughly 250ml)
- Drink using the straw from a tall glass of water in 30 seconds (Do not touch the straw)
- Record the video of yourself while following the steps
- Upload the video onto your social media accounts and tag the following (social media accounts must be made public)-
- #CleftLipChallenge
- #CabaranSumbingBibir
- #GiftofSmile
- #AnugerahSenyuman
- #RMHCMalaysia
- Pass on the challenge by tagging friends or family members to participate in the challenge
- Each nominee who is tagged would need to carry out the challenge within 48 hours and pass it on to their friends and family.
Click here for a step-by-step guide to prepare and take part in the #CleftLipChallenge
Join RMHC Malaysia to help underprivileged children in Malaysia. To donate or volunteer for RMHC Malaysia, please contact the headquarters of RMHC Malaysia at 03-7843 3388 or visit https://rmhc-malaysia.my/get-involved/make-a-donation.
