Lim Shyang Guey ran 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia to raise awareness and funds for children battling cancer through NCSM.
MOST runners measure their journey by distance covered and the moment they cross the finish line. For Lim Shyang Guey (pic), the most meaningful moments happened long before he reached the end.
After nearly three months on the road covering 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia, Lim completed his Run for Gold (RFG) at the Penang Free School on June 21.
But for him, the finish line was never the destination.
The real victories came along the way – at roadside warungs, humble coffee shops and small stalls where strangers stopped to listen, share a meal, offer encouragement and sometimes, extend a helping hand.
Lim could have chosen the easier route – run faster and finish earlier to avoid the harsh midday heat.
Instead, he deliberately slowed down.
“I could finish my run (for the day) in six hours and then go home before it got too hot, but I refused to do that.
“Every time I see a warung, I will go and talk to them and tell them about the children suffering from cancer,” he told theSun.
For Lim, the 2,200km journey was never merely about endurance. It was about creating awareness and raising support for children battling cancer through National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM).
“If I ran too quickly, I would miss out on many opportunities to connect with people,” he said.
Those conversations often turned into unexpected acts of kindness.
Some people bought him breakfast, while others contributed cash donations, which he transferred directly to NCSM.
He mentioned one coffee shop owner who donated RM500, while another covered almost the entire bill for a meal for him and his support crew.
“I learnt the need for sharing. It doesn’t matter what it is. When you share with people, there will be some people who are touched by that, or who can help you,” he said.
The journey was also a personal tribute to his late wife, Goh Joo Lee, with whom he had originally planned the adventure.
The idea was first conceived in 2020, when the couple hoped to walk around Peninsular Malaysia, covering about 20km a day while staying at Airbnb lodgings throughout the journey.
After Goh passed away, Lim came across British author and adventurer Laurence Carter’s account of walking around the coasts of England and Wales following the death of his wife.
The story resonated with him and inspired him to turn the unfinished dream into reality.
Instead of walking, Lim decided to run – reducing the journey from an estimated six months to about three.
Before the challenge began, Lim and his support crew spent four days recceing the entire route, mapping out daily distances, accommodation, meeting points and logistics.
His days began long before sunrise.
At 3am, he would prepare a smoothie made from banana, avocado, peanut butter and yoghurt before meeting his support crew at the hotel lobby at 4am.
The team would then drive back to the exact point where he had stopped the previous day, and Lim would resume the journey at 4.30am.
His first stop was usually after 5km for water, followed by a light snack at about the 10km mark.
Breakfast came after another 5km to 8km at whichever nasi lemak, roti canai or bihun stall happened to be open.
“I covered between 35km and 40km on most days,” he said.
However, the physical demands eventually caught up with him.
After crossing the 1,000km mark, Lim developed pain in his hip and leg. Concerned it could be linked to a previous hernia condition, he decided to walk 40km the following day instead of running.
Recovery became part of his daily routine.
“I started to go for massages – Malay urut, traditional Chinese massages and even Thai massages. As long as I get the massage done, my body felt better,” he said.
He even crossed into Thailand three times because he could not find suitable massage services on the Malaysian side of the border.
Despite the challenges, Lim credited his four-member support crew for helping him complete the challenge, handling logistics and ensuring the journey continued smoothly.
Along the way, he also made unexpected friendships.
Among them was Keith Sinclair, who has spent more than two years driving an American Dodge Challenger around the world to promote unity.
After Lim contacted him through Instagram, Sinclair joined him for part of the run in Kuala Lumpur before driving to Penang for the finale.
“He even displayed my donation QR code on his car to encourage contributions,” said Lim.
The campaign also attracted attention overseas.
“I was pleasantly surprised when an Australian runner who recently completed a 5,000km run across India mentioned my name among the people who inspired him to run.”
While the physical challenge has ended, Lim’s mission continues.
The RFG fundraising campaign has been extended until Aug 24 after raising close to RM800,000, allowing more Malaysians to support children undergoing cancer treatment.
Lim hopes the campaign will surpass its RM1 million target.
The funds will support NCSM’s Children’s Home of Hope (CHH) facilities in Penang, Perak and the Klang Valley, which provide accommodation and essential support services for children with cancer and their families.
NCSM managing director Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said demand for the society’s accommodation services had grown significantly over the past four years, with utilisation rising from 3,426 bednights in 2022 to 12,650 in 2025.
“Each bednight represents more than just a place to rest. It represents reassurance, stability and the comfort of being close to medical care during what can be an incredibly challenging period for families,” he told theSun.
Murallitharan said children with cancer and their families face challenges beyond medical treatment, including lengthy treatment periods, repeated hospital visits, painful procedures and emotional stress.
Parents may also have to take extended leave or stop working altogether to care for their children, creating additional financial pressure.
“The fear, uncertainty and stress of seeing a child go through cancer treatment can be extremely difficult for parents and caregivers. This is why comprehensive support is essential throughout the cancer journey,” he said.
Apart from accommodation, families often require transportation assistance, nutritional support, counselling, educational support and opportunities for children to continue playing and interacting despite their illness.
Murallitharan said although treatment may be available through public healthcare facilities, families still face expenses involving transport, accommodation, meals and daily necessities, alongside lost income.
“For families who are already financially vulnerable, these costs can become overwhelming.
“Financial support allows parents to focus more on their child’s recovery rather than worrying about whether they can afford the basic needs required throughout treatment,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 400,000 children and adolescents below 19 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.
The Malaysia National Cancer Registry recorded 4,303 childhood cancer cases between 2012 and 2016, including 1,348 cases among children aged four and younger.
For Lim, the journey was never only about completing 2,200km.It was about reminding people that even the smallest act of kindness can help a child and family facing one of life’s toughest battles.
“There shouldn’t be a limit to saving children’s lives. The journey doesn’t end at the finish line, and neither should our mission,” he said.
Those wishing to contribute may donate via the NCSM Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad account (No. 6408-70010-04980-6) or visit the Run for Gold website.
