Held at De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan at The Linc KL, guests can look forward to an evening filled with much laughter and scrumptious cuisine, adding a much-needed dose of joy to the conversation about cancer.
The event aims to shed light on the strength, survival and solidarity that mark the journey of many affected individuals.
“Our goal is to host an event that provides a light-hearted break from the seriousness of cancer, bringing together individuals, corporations, and organisations eager to support our research efforts,” CRMY chief executive officer Andy Khoo told FMT Lifestyle.
For a person going through cancer, he said, moments when they can laugh and experience joy can make a huge difference. “It’s a reminder that life continues, and that there’s always room for happiness, no matter the circumstances.”
Funds raised will directly support CRMY’s research initiatives, particularly focusing on cancers that disproportionately affect Malaysians and regional neighbours, and aimed at improving survival rates as well as addressing neglected areas of cancer research.
‘Adversity into anecdotes, pain into punchlines’
The night will be hosted by the “Maestro of a Thousand Voices” and “The King of Jingles” himself, Leonard Tan. And with talented comedians Kavin Jay, Rizal van Geyzel and Shamaine Othman in the lineup, a thoroughly entertaining evening certainly awaits!
For Shamaine, humour is a way to help people heal or cope with challenges. “In comedy, jokes are all about building tension and releasing it with a punchline, so it’s good to seek punchlines amidst the challenges one is facing,” she told FMT Lifestyle.
And she knows full well how laughter can bring solace in times of great difficulty. “I lost my best friend on MH370, and I had to listen to jokes about it after it happened. Surprisingly, over time, hearing the jokes helped me to grieve the painful loss.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by Rizal: “A lot of times I believe comedy has served as a coping mechanism for me in dealing with my past traumas,” he shared.
Hearing the audience laugh reminds him he’s not alone in his suffering, and helps him shift his perspective while fostering social connections.
“Through the highs and lows, I’ve learnt that comedy isn’t just about making people laugh; it’s about finding light in the darkest of times, turning adversity into anecdotes and pain into punchlines.”
Kavin, too, chimed in: “You’ve heard of the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine’. But let’s be honest, MEDICINE is the best medicine. What laughter can do, however, is to take your mind away from your troubles, even for a little while.”
Sharing from personal experience, he said: “When my mom was diagnosed with throat cancer, she was given the choice of removing the tumour, which would result in her losing her voice box, or keeping the tumour but losing the ability to swallow or eat.
“She made her choice very quickly, and my mum and I took solace in joking that, as an Indian woman, she’d rather not eat again than go one day without shouting at my dad.”
‘Life is Funny’
When:
July 19 (Friday) @ 7pm
Where:
De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan,
The Linc KL,
360, Jalan Tun Razak,
Taman U Thant, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
There are various donation tiers, starting from RM300. Click here to get your tickets. For corporate donations, contact Joanne at 012-326 6862 or Ms Faun at 012-233 2213.