Yap Soon Heng 10, gets his chance to stardom with Malaysian pop idol Nicholas Teo in Mahkota Parade last Friday (July 17)

THE smile says it all. Yap Soon Heng 10 is all smiles posing for a photograph with Malaysian pop idol Nicholas Teo at Mahkota Parade in Melaka.

Soon Heng was brought to Mahkota Parade by the complex management to attend a performance by Teo and his chance to meet the star himself.

Soon Heng suffers from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

More than 2 weeks ago, he was presented a PSP by the Children’s Wish Society of Malaysia at his home in Merlimau.

Car Boot Sale Raises RM4,350.00 for CWS Malaysia

From left : ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh, MPSJ President Dato’ Adnan Md Ikshan, Summit USJ centre manager Suzanne Chew and CWS board member Lim Ai Mee.

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No 1 Fan

Twelve-year-old Aiman Hafiz Abdul Halim is all smiles with his Manchester United VIPs surrounding him for a photograph. The four from the Manchester United team were Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, Paul Scholes and Ben Foster.

VIP Guest...Aiman was the VIP for the day with the Manchester United team (from left : Paul Scholes, Ben Foster, John O'Shea and Michael Carrick), TM group marketing VP Sherene Azura Azli and executive VP (consumer) Jeremy Kung looking on.

BEING wheelchair bound since he was nine has not stopped twelve-year-old Aiman Hafiz Abdul Halim from becoming perhaps one of Manchester United’s most ardent fan in Malaysia. He watches their matches on TV and spends time playing computer simulated football games.

He has harbored a wish to see them one day but never really thought it would actually become a reality especially with his medical condition.

Aiman was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD - http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-dmdbmd-what.html ) at the age 8 and was wheelchair bound since 9 years old. DMD is a slowly debilitating familial disease which affects boys and causes progressive muscle weakness finally affecting the muscles of breathing hence causing slow death usually during their teenage years.

Just last week, he was tragically diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Doctors have not really done further invasive investigations to confirm this as the parents were still  undecided whether to proceed with leukemia treatment or not if it were proven true.

But see Manchester United Aiman did today (July 17), when the Children’s Wish Society of Malaysia was notified of Aiman’s condition and his wish.

“Aiman had asked for a PSP game set. This we agreed we would get him as part of our wish granting commitment.”

“We also found out that he is a Manchester United fan and since the team was going to be in town, we contacted everyone and anyone we knew to ask if they could help us realise this little boy’s wish,” CWS board member Lim Ai Mee said.

Just at the eleventh hour, Subang Jaya resident Afendi Deniel who was part of the event organising team engaged by Telekom Malaysia Berhad said he would give it a try with the host.

Aiman was presented a Manchester United jersey by TM group marketing VP Sherene Azura Azli while all the four players autographed a poster of the team which they then presented to Aiman.

Aiman who was obviously overwhelmed by all the attention was shy and smiled occassionally for media photographers.

He did whisper softly, “Thank You.”

Yap Soon Heng, 10 is all smiles when he was taken for a shopping spree at Mahkota Parade, Melaka on July 8

Note: Soon Heng suffers from ADHD( attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia for the last 1 year or so. He has suffered a relapse and his chances with re-chemotherapy is 30% . The family has made a decision against the re-chemo as well as looking for a donor for a bone marrow transplant. His father Yap Ah Wat harvests coconuts ( not his own) and supplies it to vendors.

His wish: a PSP to replace his old Play Station 2

Soon Heng showing off his brand new PSP presented by CWS

We had a very good and productive trip in Merlimau, Melaka yesterday visiting Yap Soon Heng, 10.
Joint by a team from Mahkota Parade, CWS member Allan Yip and I made our way to Soon Heng’s family home after communicating with his father Yap Ah Wat several days earlier.
We brought along a brand new PSP and a CWS Durian Fest t-shirt from him.
Soon Heng wasn’t expecting us and he was initially a little wary of our presence but his face lightened up when we brought the nicely wrapped present for him.

Soon Heng sharing a joke with CWS member Allan Yip

He quickly warmed up to the visitors and was obviously happy with his new toy.
His father, Ah Wat looked very touched by the gesture and even plucked fresh coconuts for the group to drink.

Lunch with Soon Heng...Mahkota Parade staff having a KFC lunch with Soon Heng

We subsequently headed for Mahkota Parade for lunch with Soon Heng and his mother. The Mahkota Parade team hosted lunch (we had KFC as Soon Heng asked for it) and subsequently he was given shopping vouchers and cash for spending. The shopping mall’s centre manager Gloria Koh and marketing manager Michelle Peralta together with their team then took the group around shopping for toys and DVDs.

Take a pick....Gloria (second from right) helping Soon Heng pick some DVDs

This would be nice...Soon Heng asking his mother if he could choose the piano

Soon Heng got to choose a nice electric piano (sponsored by Toy City) and a set of DVD cartoons (sponsored by Inverno Music Station).

Let's go shopping

He spent the afternoon browsing around the shopping centre with two of the centre’s staff chaperoning him.

Soon Heng with his family just before going off to Mahkota Parade

Soon Heng’s father later called us while we were driving back to Subang Jaya, expressing his thanks for our gift and our effort in fulfilling his son’s wish and making the day a wonderful one for him.