KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) have entered a collaboration to raise RM1 million during two charity concerts in July.
The "Unforgettable Teresa Teng Charity Concerts" will be held at the The Platform, Taman Tun Dr Ismail on July 21 and Wisma HuaZong on July 27.
The concerts pay tribute to one of Asia's most popular and enduring singing stars who passed away about a quarter of a century ago.
The funds will go into various programmes and initiatives to help people living with Alzheimer's disease and to create more awareness about it.
ADFM patron Puan Sri Wendy Ong said the association engages in fundraising exercises occasionally to ensure the continuity of its efforts to help people with dementia.
She said there were various means to treat dementia patients and music has been proven to be among the most effective.
"Music therapy has been proven to delay cognitive decline and to promote brain plasticity in the brains of an elderly person, which is the reason why we will conduct the concert.
"On behalf of ADFM, my appreciation goes to Tan Sri Dr Goh Tian Chuan, president of Huazong for his initiative in getting Huazong to co-organise this charity concert with us," she said at the soft launch of the joint charity concert at Hotel Royal Signature here today.
She said ADFM's objectives through these concerts were also to provide relevant skills to the caregivers and care workers of Alzheimer's disease patients.
Ong said the association promoted public awareness about dementia, and it emphasised early detection because it can prevent more severe conditions in a patient.
Meanwhile, ADFM executive committee chairman Datuk Dr Yim Khai Kee said Alzheimer's disease was not getting the exposure it deserves.
"The initial idea of setting up ADFM is to create awareness on dementia and Alzheimer's disease," he said.
Although dementia is an incurable disease but various non- pharmaceutical treatments and medications can be administered to ease behavioural and psychological symptoms for a period time.
