Hitachi eBworx Raises RM100,000 for Employee Diagnosed with ALS

Malaysia, April 22, 2015 – When Hitachi eBworx Sdn Bhd first received news from the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) stating that Project Director, Mr Song was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)¹, many fellow colleagues were shocked and saddened. Nevertheless, Hitachi eBworx’s management office initiated a donation drive almost immediately. Colleagues, ex-colleagues, and even clients of Hitachi eBworx Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia and Thailand donated generously.

A total of RM101,438 was raised within three and a half days.

The fervent response from employees and clients alike saw a grateful Mr Hiroyuki Yagi, Managing Director/Deputy CEO of Hitachi eBworx who responded, “Thank you, I am touched to see the great team spirit demonstrated in Hitachi eBworx”.

The funds were used to purchase a sleep diagnostic and therapy homecare ventilation unit to aid in Mr Song’s breathing, as his muscles weaken. One such unit costs RM69,900 and would eventually be donated to a non-profit organisation called the Motor Neuron Malaysia Society (MND Malaysia) once Mr Song no longer has a use for it. MND Malaysia would then assign the unit to other patients.

Mr Yagi beseeched Dr Loh Ee Chin from UMMC to quote, “Please take good care of Mr Song”.

“What Hitachi eBworx did was fantastic! Many companies do not understand or empathise when their employees experience conditions similar to Mr Song’s. The support extended by Hitachi eBworx is beyond words”, said Dr Loh, who is Mr Song’s attending doctor.

Mr Song expressed his gratitude for all the contribution and support from Hitachi eBworx via email. He plans to purchase an electric wheelchair with the additional cash received.

“Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is not widely known in Malaysia. But thanks to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge campaign on social media, more people are aware of this disease now. We hope to raise more funds to purchase more ventilation units so that more patients will benefit from this service in the future”, shared Mr Benny Ng, Chairman of MND Malaysia.

If you would like to help or find out more about the work that MND Malaysia does, their contact details are stated below:

Persatuan Motor Neuron Malaysia
Address: Pusat Perubatan University Malaya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Mobile no: +6017-238 9686, Email: mndmalaysia@gmail.com

¹Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

This article was originally published on Hitachi eBworx.