I
can remember that sunny morning on 15 February 2014 when the Johor Bahru Breast
Cancer Support Group (BCSG JB) moved into their new center at No. 12 Jalan Ru, Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru.
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BSCG JB presents their first recipe book, Flavours from Our Garden [Photo courtesy of BCSG JB] |
Brightly
dressed in Pink T-shirts, members were accompanied by then Johor Bahru Member
of Parliament, Tan Sri Dato’ Shahrir Abdul Samad and his wife, Puan Sri
Shahrizan, a group who made an eye-catching sight as they trekked the short
distance within the same area.
While
this walk was short, it was particularly meaningful as it symbolized the
members’ support and solidarity in a journey together in meeting the challenges
of fighting breast cancer and their battle for survival.
Then
the members, supporters and invited guests (like me!) witnessed a simple
ceremony where Tan Sri Dato’ Shahrir, a strong supporter of this
Non-Governmental Organization, unveiled a wall plaque and declared the new
center open.
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Cover design of the recipe book, Flavours from Our Garden |
A
registered NGO since 2004, BCSG JB continues to effectively support members and
newly diagnosed patients with their outreach campaigns, education and road show
activities.
As
breast cancer has affected countless lives worldwide and is the Number One
highest occurrence of cancer in Malaysia, BCSG JB has annual campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce its stigma as well as promote education
on the symptoms because early detection may lead to higher survival rates.
The
National Cancer Society in Malaysia and dedicated partners like support groups,
are fostering an environment where breast cancer will no longer be a silent
threat.
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List of Contents in the recipe book |
BCSG JB members are made up of survivors and supporters. They are being helped by
volunteers, many of whom are retired medical professionals, trained to provide
practical advice as well as emotional and psychological support to help newly
diagnosed patients deal with the challenges in their journey to recovery.
On
25 April 2021, a group of four BCSG members and two friends met at the center
to discuss ways to set up a Wellness Garden that is sustainable and to consider
what plants to grow in this garden.
This
garden was developed from the flower beds around the center building that were
available to plant a variety of herbs and vegetables.
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A section of the Wellness Garden at the BCSG JB center in Johor Bahru |
BCSG is aware that Nature heals and that gardening would be therapeutic for new patients because such physical exercise can contribute to their wellbeing.
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Easy-to-follow recipes in this book |
Then at the harvest, produce from the Wellness Garden can be shared with new patients and BCSG members.
With
the help of Yaw Yin Kin, a BCSG volunteer, the Wellness Garden soon became a
reality. Yaw’s wife is a volunteer at the Prosthetics and Brassiere Shop in
BCSG JB.
Yaw,
a keen gardener who enjoys planting his own garden, came to BCSG as a handy-man
to help around the center and he eventually became the Captain of the Wellness
Garden.
With
Yaw taking the lead in the garden, BCSG members who were keen on gardening,
joined him in cultivating a range of herbs, vegetables and fruits.
Among
the vegetables planted were sweet potato leaves, Brazilian spinach, Okinawa
spinach, asparagus, winter melon and Ginseng Jawa.
Some
of the herbs growing in this garden were Thai basil and ginger while the fruits
included Dwarf Cavendish Banana and chillie plants.
These
plants will be harvested from time to time and made available to members while
slices of winter melon may be sold to members at a nominal price of only RM2 or
RM3 per slice.
In
the past three years, BCSG celebrated Pink October in partnership with
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast to raise funds for their Prosthetics and Brassiere
project.
When
General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Murray Aitken, learnt about
the work in their Wellness Garden, he suggested that BCSG should come up with a
recipe book that made use of the produce from their own garden.
Supported
by GM Aitken, the hotel’s Executive Chef Halim Chek Lah generously contributed
eight recipes to add into BCSG’s first recipe book titled, Flavours of Our
Garden.
Other
contributions of recipes in this book were from BCSG members and Daisy Harry of
Iskandar Regional Development Authority, a Sarawakian and supporter of BCSG who
appreciates the Wellness Garden and enjoys cooking.
The
timely publication of this recipe book in 2024 coincides with the 20th
anniversary celebration of BCSG JB* since this NGO was registered in 2004.
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Collage of photographs to showcase some of the cooking demonstrations held in BCSG JB |
The
recipes in this book present cancer patients and survivors with simple but
hearty recipes that aim to whet their appetites when they most needed to eat
well on their journey to wellness.
Cancer
patients and survivors may be concerned about their diet after surgery,
chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so recipes in this book will be useful to them
and their caregivers.
This
recipe book also aims to give them the confidence to use the ingredients and
cooking methods listed in the book. Best of all, recipes included the one-pot
convenient meals which do not take much effort to prepare.
The
BCSG JB recipe book, Flavours of Our Garden, is priced at RM40
per book and is now available from the center.
Place
your order by email to thebcsgjb13@outlook.com or call to arrange for
collection from the center. Orders can also be posted with additional postage
charges.
*
As part of the BCSG JB 20th anniversary celebration, a Line Dance Party
dubbed Come Dance with Us, is planned for Sunday, July 28,
in collaboration with the Women’s Committee of the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua
Association.
Line
Dancing not only emphasizes the importance of physical exercise in the journey
to wellness but this activity will also bring much joy and fun to participants.
To
create breast cancer awareness, a Roadshow will be held at this event organized
at Wisma Tiong Hua located at No. 8 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor
Bahru, Johor.
BCSG’s
handmade merchandise and copies of Flavours of Our Garden will also be
available for sale to raise funds.
All
proceeds from the sale of this recipe book will go to BCSG to help members
cover transport expenses to and from treatments and cover costs incurred for screening
of PET and CT scans.
The
Johor Bahru Breast Cancer Support Group center is located at No. 12 Jalan Ru,
Melodies Gardens, Johor Bahru. It’s Prosthetics and Brassiere Shop is open on
Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 1pm. For appointments, please call Tel: 607 –
335 7211.
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