JOHOR BAHRU: The number of dialysis patients is increasing each year and expected to touch a whopping 100,000 patients by 2040.

According to National Kidney Foundation (NKF), presently there are 50,000 dialysis patients nationwide. Each year the numbers are increasing with 7,000 new patients.

With this in mind, Ponderosa Golf & Country Resort (PGCR) organized a charity golf known as Ponderosa-YnD Charity Golf “Ping For Hope” managed to raise RM153,010.19 for the Rotary Club of Kulai Kidney Dialysis Centre.

The event was co-organized between the Young and Dangerous Golf Group and Ponderosa Golf who have been holding yearly charity golf events in aid of different section of the local community.

Organizing chairperson Jarret Ching King Ying said, “Through golf, we are pleased to be able to share wholesome values among the community and also to involve as well to pass such values to our next generation.”

The children of the organizing committee were present on that day, dressed in custom-designed T-shirts, to offer a helping hand to collect cash donations from participants, which created much amusement and generated much support.

Some 114 players joined in the charity golf. The participation fee, generous cash donations as well as sponsorship for the lucky draw prizes from well-meaning companies were received, contributing to the total proceeds.

“I wish to thank PGCR for their full support in this event, being our co-organiser, for the past four years,” said Ching with a beam.

He looks forward to the continuity of a great collaboration and all in aid of worthy recipients who face financial difficulties amidst seeking treatments for life-threatening kidney disease.

The cheque was handed to Amber Goh, president of Rotary Club of Kulai Foundation who was present at the prize presentation dinner.

According to Goh, the dialysis centre incurs a deficit of RM60,000 to RM70,000 a month, of which the administrative expenses take a large portion.

The Young & Dangerous Golf Group was formed in 2016 by a group of like-minded young golfers who got together for lifelong relationships in pursuit of the sport they love, and who jointly aspire to inspire youths of today to build better futures for themselves through love and empathy towards others in the community.

Meanwhile the centre charges only RM110 for each patient under the Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, the actual operation cost if RM150 per person, the balance of which is subsidized by the centre.

“The dialysis centre is like a lifeline. Without dialysis, these people wouldn’t have a life because once a person has renal failure, the kidney isn’t able to process and eliminate toxins from the body,” she said.

According to Goh, when this happens, the toxins enter the body causing them to deteriorate and eventually die.

“We don’t just provide dialysis treatment. We help our patients and their families have a more comfortable life,” she said.

“To work or serve in a dialysis centre, the doctors, nurses and other staff really need to have a heart for it,” she says.

She stressed that the staff need to understand the patient, spend time to talk with them, understand their background, empathise with them, and not everyone has that. But at Kulai Dialysis Centre, all the nurses are very patient.

Set up 28 years ago, the centre constantly needs to phase out and replace old machines due to nearing of life span which is about five years.

Goh explained that new machine is about RM45,000. Besides, there are other facilities to maintain and upgrade to improve quality of dialysis treatment.