Seminarians in costume

Here's an excerpt of an article that appeared in The Star recently:

Head-turning fancy parade for charity

By TAN SIN CHOW

THEY made head turns in their fancy costumes as passers-by stared at them in awe.

Traffic came to a halt as curious motorists stopped to watch the ‘Mummy’, ‘Little Knights’, ‘Pumpkin’, ‘Little Fairy’ and others dressed as ‘jesters’ and ‘ghouls’ on the road.

No, this was not a street Halloween celebration, but a pumpkin parade charity walkathon organised by Mount Miriam Hospital, Penang.

More than 340 people took part in the 2km walk from the hospital to Island Plaza.

And the objective? To raise RM50,000 for needy cancer patients. The response was tremendous.

BEST DRESSED':The group calling themselves Dead and Alive clowning around during the parade.

The hospital managed to collect RM73,382 from the public, schools and various organisations.

Adopting the theme ‘Pumpkin Parade’, participants were encouraged to dress up in colourful fancy costumes of their choice.

‘Vegetarian Man’ Vincent Thomas, 28, had all sorts of vegetables hanging from his body.

“It's really fun and exciting. I do not mind walking for such a distance knowing that I am actually walking for a good cause,” said the student of College General (a preparatory school for student priests).

Another exceptional character spotted was the 'Mummy' Aloysius Tan, 34, who came to the walk with Vincent and six other friends.

“This is a meaningful and interesting event and I am enjoying every minute of it.

”Besides, by wrapping myself this way, my friends could not recognise me,” said Tan in a jest.

It was no surprise when the seminarians of eight calling themselves the ‘Dead and Alive’ won the ‘Best Pumpkin Family Award’.

Over at Island Plaza, there was no less excitement as chuckles and laughter filled the air.

Door gifts and snacks were presented to all participants at the end of the walk.

Snake charmer Salim Khan wowed the guests, handling a 3m-long king cobra and other slithery ‘friends’ like mangrove snakes and pythons.

He had earlier invited guests to have their photographs taken with the slithery reptiles.

But the night truly belonged to six-year-old violinist prodigy Koay Zhi Tong, who was accredited as the youngest violinist by the Malaysia Book of Records.

She was in her element playing several popular numbers which had the crowd dancing to the catchy tunes.

State executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, together with hospital's chief executive officer Andy Wee, revealed the amount raised for needy cancer patients.