PENAMPANG: A daunting quest to carry donated items for 10 kilometres through a jungle received overwhelming response from outdoor enthusiasts and good Samaritans.
The two-day "Mega Charity Project" during the weekend was initiated by Universiti Malaysia Sabah's tourism course student Siscariell Maikol, 25, who was inspired to assist teachers of SK Longkogungan to deliver those items to the school.
It saw more than 100 people taking part to help the school to carry things such as mattresses, blankets, pillows, computers, kitchen appliances, paint, and cement among others.
School teacher Harry Yanto Bikal said the idea of involving hikers stemmed after he received those donations from several non-governmental organisations such as JCI and Mercy Malaysia.
"I was thinking how I would carry all those items and it came across my mind that hikers would probably want to help.
"It is unexpected that there were so many people interested in the charity work that I had to personally decline some who wished to join," he said, adding this was the first time the school received more than 100 volunteers.
Harry Yanto, 39, went viral in March for carrying a 40kg fridge alone, hiking through steep and muddy forest, crossing rivers and bridges.
"It is not an easy job to carry those items. For example, a mattress weighs at 8.7kg but after a while the burden would feel tenfold the original weight.
"We are thankful to all volunteers for helping the school, those items would be used for the school and its hostels" he said, adding that the school has 11 pupils and some of them have to walk about two hours to school.
The two-day hiking also saw a participant Hadinah Inah Basinau, 39, in a green baju kurung carrying a basketful of items who managed to reach the school within 4 hours of hiking starting from about 7am.
She said that it is her way to maintain her pace and breathing when going to a new adventurous place. The hospital administrative staff had also done the same thing while climbing Mount Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, a four-year Trusmadi mountain guide Keristopo Ulah, 38, managed to hike through terrain with about 40-kg load which included a monitor and central processing unit.
"I have been wanting to come and help the school. As I am confident that I could handle fragile items without breaking them, I volunteered to carry it.
"The trail to Longkogungan village is beautiful and I would love to bring other mountain guides to revisit this place."
Present were Moyog assemblyman Jennifer Lasimbang and the school headmaster Sunny Yong Ken Vun.
Jennifer said that despite being located in the Penampang district, SK Longkogungan is the only school in the constituency that is inaccessible by road.
"The village is located within forest reserves and land under Sabah Parks where it is not an easy process to build a road to get there. It requires special permission.
"But for now, let us enjoy nature and feel the experience of what those teachers are going through to go to school."
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