KUALA LUMPUR: Yvonne Foong can finally put her mind to rest after collecting the remaining RM11,400 needed for her Dec 9 surgery.

And it was made possible in one night, thanks to a charity fundraising concert featuring 70s music group Boney M last Saturday at the Sunway Lagoon Hotel.

The 23-year-old blogger, who has neurofibromatosis Type 2, was RM11,400 short of her targeted RM158,700 with less than two weeks to go to her scheduled surgery at the St Vincent Medical Centre, USA. While others would have been dispirited at the mammoth task of raising funds in a short space of time, Foong always kept faith that enough money would be raised by the time it was due.

“I had faith that God would provide somehow,” Foong told The Malay Mail. “God has brought me this far and I have received overwhelming support from so many people. Surely, there would be no turning back,” she said.

Her faith was rewarded when the charity concert, a corporate social responsibility project by Lejadi Group of Companies, got her more than the RM11,400 she needed.

The concert raised RM10,200 from various donors at the show – including a RM3,000 contribution from the Kuan Ying Contemplative Order (KYCO).

One lucky draw winner, who won a flight ticket to Kunming, China, auctioned her ticket at the concert to help Foong’s cause, and managed to obtain RM2,000 – bringing the funds tally to RM12,200, more than Foong’s target.

“I’m touched by the generosity of my donors,” said Foong.

“I wanted to have surgery with my chosen doctors and they accepted my decision.”

The Malay Mail highlighted Foong’s plight to Lejadi Group founder Tan Sri Lim Ewe Jin earlier this month. He agreed to help Foong with fundraising through the Boney M concert.

“I feel assured and relieved now,” Foong said at achieving her target.

“I can finally put my mind to rest; enjoy packing and get ready for my flight this Saturday.”

Foong said, she will be releasing a Chinese version of her book I’m Not Sick, Just a Bit Unwell when she returns in January.