Former Chinese chess champ gets wish fulfilled

Hello Everyone,

A former Chinese chess champ got his wish fulfilled through a unique charitable programme.

At 82 years old, Teoh Chee Cheong is confined to a wheelchair after a stroke. He had this simple wish to have someone play Chinese chess with him!

A former Chinese chess champion, Teoh longed for a good game. His wish was conveyed by the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) to the Truly Loving Company’s TLC Promise Me campaign.

Howard Tee Wei Heng, a member of Aiesec who is pursuing a degree in accounting at Universiti Putra Malaysia, pledged to help him.

"I’ve have been playing Chinese chess since I was in primary school," said Tee who was taught the game by his late grandfather who used to play with him.

When he saw Teoh’s wish, he knew it was something he could fulfil.

On his part, Teoh was excited at the prospect of meeting the young man who was willing to take him on and kept asking his family when the game was on.

Tee came by Nasam with his Aiesec friends to play with Teoh in a couple of matches.

The group was joined by Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, the member of parliament for Pandan who is the patron of Aiesec. Ong also played two games with Teoh.

Tee said that this will not be a one-off thing. "We’ll try to follow up later and have more games in the future."

TLC Promise Me is a special campaign in Malaysia for helping the less fortunate, disabled and underprivileged in our society. It gives everyone an opportunity to fulfil the wishes of the less fortunate i.e. an orphan wishing to learn to ride a bicycle or a mentally challenged girl wishing to learn to dance.

These wishes become Promise Me pledges which a caring participant takes up and promises to fulfil within a set period of time.

Maybe, you would like to start a similar campaign in your community. Write to us if you do.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com