Relaying hope with motion: A community’s Relay For Life 2025 in Perak

Relaying hope, empowering life. It was all about celebrating and remembering the resilience of those battling life-altering diseases, embracing life through inclusive kindness and empowering cancer fighters worldwide to embrace hope and possibility.

A passing of hope and empathy from one person to another is more than an inspiring message; it is a shared movement that uplifts in the face of life’s hardest battles. That is what Relay For Life (RFL) is all about.

As the annual RFL continues to spread its wings of positivity across Malaysia, the RFL Perak 2025 landed at UTAR Kampar Campus on 7 December 2025, bringing together around 1,200 community members and cancer survivors to celebrate, support one another, and raise funds for the advancement of cancer research in Malaysia.

RFL Perak 2025 was organised by the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and hosted by UTAR. It featured highlights such as a 5km fun run, performances by cancer survivors and the community, the Pound with Nida workout session, family treasure hunt, the Cancer Survivor Step Up for Cancer Challenge, the Relay Challenge, lucky draws, carnival activities, food bazaar, and free mammogram screening services.

A shared movement from all walks of life, RFL Perak 2025 was joined not only by the community but also by none other than the programme’s Royal Patron, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim.

Recognising the courageous display of kindness and resilience, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim presented tokens of appreciation to the participating cancer survivor groups and support groups, honouring their unwavering strength and the shared journey they inspired.

In line with RFL events across the nation, RFL Perak 2025 was preceded by the Luminaria Ceremony, where cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers shared their heartfelt stories. Inspiring performances filled the evening with bonds, laughter, and enduring hope—treasures that were redefined and instilled into participants by the cancer fighters. The ceremony closed with the customary Luminaria Walk, a tribute to individuals who have been lost and a celebration of those who continue to triumph against the disease.

NCSM Managing Director Kol Bersekutu (PA) Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said, “The 2025 edition has shown us the very best of Malaysia. Seeing survivors joining the relay, supported by thousands of community members, confirms that hope and support are abundant. We thank every state government, every local council, and every citizen for making this a truly national movement. This collective spirit is what will drive down cancer rates and improve patient quality of life.”

Expressing his gratitude for being an official part of this meaningful initiative, UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat said, “We are honoured that NCSM has entrusted UTAR to host the Perak edition of RFL this year, and we stand ready to support the event with our student volunteers, campus facilities, and organisational assistance.”

He added, “UTAR’s partnership with NCSM is longstanding and rooted in a shared commitment to community health. In August 2024, UTAR Kampar Campus collaborated with NCSM to organise the Jelajah HPV di Negeri Perak vaccination campaign, which provided free HPV immunisation to protect the community from preventable cancers. This was followed by the second-dose vaccination programme in December 2024, ensuring continuity and effective protection. UTAR also supported NCSM in public education by hosting the webinar “Protect Today, Prevent Tomorrow”, reinforcing our commitment to promoting preventive healthcare.”

Also present at RFL Perak 2025 were spouse of the Menteri Besar of Perak Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, spouse of the Perak State Secretary Datin Che Fauziah binti Ahmad, Orang Besar Jajahan Mu’allim YDH Toh Paduka Setia Dato’ Ir Dr Safry Kamal bin Haji Ahmad and spouse Datin Fauziana binti Ahmad; Orang Besar Jajahan Kinta YBhg Orang Kaya Kaya Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja Dato’ Ab Wahab bin Dato’ Seri Azizul Hassan and spouse Toh Puan Datin Lailee binti Hamid; Orang Besar Jajahan Bagan Datuk YDH Toh Seri Lela Paduka Dato’ Dr Khalid bin Ismail and spouse Datin Sharifah binti Saad; Orang Besar Jajahan Kampar YDH Toh Muda Orang Kaya Kaya Panglima Bukit Gantang Seri Amar DiRaja En Azman bin Dato’ Seri Yeop Junior and spouse Pn Rita Azian binti Abu Bakar; Orang Besar Jajahan Kuala Kangsar YDH Toh Maharaja Indera Dr Haji Khairil Anuar bin Arshad and spouse Datin Halijah binti Osman; Orang Besar Jajahan Hulu Perak YDH Toh Muda Orang Kaya Kaya Seri Adika Raja Shahbandar Muda Dato’ Ar LA Meor Roslan bin Dato’ Seri Haji Meor Ahmad Rashidi and spouse Datin Khairiyah binti Abd Kadir; Malim Nawar State Assemblyman YB Puan Bavani Veraiah, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri (KPN) Perak Deputy Director Dr Husna Maizura binti Ahmad Mahir, Yang DiPertua Majlis Daerah (MD) Kampar En Ahmad Suqairy bin Alias, Pejabat Daerah dan Tanah (PDT) Kampar State Officer En Mohamad Kamil bin Mohamad Kasim, Ibu Pejabat Daerah (IPD) Kampar Police Chief Superintendent Mohamad Nazri Daud, UTAR Hospital Board Chairman and UTAR Council Member Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah Hean Teik, UTAR Council Member Mr Hew Fen Yee, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, and distinguished guests from IPD Kampar, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malayaisa (JBPM) Perak, NCSM, UTAR, UTAR Hospital, and support groups.

Fostering a healthy community has long been a core mission of UTAR, a commitment reflected with diverse community health events and the establishment of UTAR Hospital. As UTAR joined hands once more with NCSM, the collaboration reaffirmed a shared dedication to advocacy, early awareness, and compassionate support for those impacted by cancer, the third leading cause of death in Malaysia.

UTAR is honoured to be part of this meaningful initiative, one that empowers those affected by cancer and relays a universal message—kindness is among us, and every life is beautiful.

Relay For Life
What started as a one-man run in 1985 by Dr Gordy Klatt, who sought to raise funds for the American Cancer Society office, quickly transformed into the RFL that everyone recognised now across over 20 economies. It now serves as a global fundraising initiative that brings communities together to support the fight against cancer, including promoting the progress of cancer research and patient support through raised funds, celebrating survivors, and honouring those lost to the disease.

The RFL events in Malaysia have long been organised by NCSM, with support from diverse communities. They include survivors’ laps, caregivers’ recognition, and the Luminaria Ceremony which brings Malaysians from diverse backgrounds to not only raise funds for cancer research, treatment, and support services, but also to honour cancer survivors for their resilience.

As a community-driven initiative, RFL 2025 attracted more than 8,000 participants across six states, including Penang, Selangor, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Perak. Beyond the main organisers, RFL 2025 in Malaysia was further injected with waves of vibrance—made possible by the unwavering support from over 40 partners, ranging from non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, support groups, and government agencies.