Sands Cares Ambassadors celebrated the Venetian Macao’s 15th anniversary on Sunday with four local non-governmental organisations (NGOs): the Macau Special Olympics, Association of Parents of the People with Intellectual Disabilities of Macau, Macau Association for Intellectual Development Services, and the Macau Down Syndrome Association, Sands China said in a statement earlier this week.
The statement noted that the parent-child event, officially called “The Venetian Macao 15th Anniversary Presents: Sands Cares Healthcare Day”, was organised by Sands China and MSO, in conjunction with the Macau Medical and Health Federation, to promote people with intellectual disabilities’ health.
According to the statement, participants played games, took part in activities and received a gift pack with the Venetian’s signature doll included. They also underwent health checks as part of the MSO Healthy Athletes programme, a free programme organised by Sands and MSO aiming to “improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities and to reduce related parenting stress”.
The statement said that 300 people participated in the event, where 100 Sands Cares Ambassadors accompanied 150 children with disabilities and their family members from the local NGOs. Guests of honour include MSO Chairman Prof. Sze Tat Ming and Macau Legislative Assembly members Leong Sun Iok and Ngan Iek Hang, among others.
Sands, the statement added, made a 248,000 pataca donation to MSO on the same day in support of the programme, which also offers advice for the participants’ caregivers. It has, to date, helped identify health issues of 5,500 people with intellectual disabilities, while 600 children and young adults with intellectual disabilities have had follow-up treatment fully funded by the programme, the statement added.
Sands China President Wilfred Wong Ying-wai was quoted in the statement as thanking Sands Cares Ambassadors for “always sharing the company’s goodwill with our community partners, and to Macau Special Olympics for their collaboration and for the invaluable services they provide to people with disabilities and their families.”
Having collaborated with Sands for over 15 years and marking the ninth year of the programme, MSO National Director Hetzer Siu Yu Hong said: Through this programme, Sands Cares Ambassadors and our members have developed a great bond, which gives the local community a better understanding of the challenges faced by families of individuals with intellectual disabilities.”
This handout photo recently provided by Sands China Ltd. shows participants in the The Venetian Macao 15th Anniversary Presents: Sands Cares Healthcare Day event during an indoor gondola ride.
