First Reach to Recovery Malaysia Award 2002 The Breast Cancer Welfare Association, which is affiliated to Reach to Recovery International has established a special award, in recognition of outstanding contribution by a volunteer in breast cancer support in Malaysia. This award was conferred for the first time at the inaugural First Asia Pacific Reach to Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Conference in Kuala Lumpur in August 2002. The criteria for the award follows the criteria set up by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) for other similar awards, that is: - The recipient is a volunteer working in Malaysia
- The recipient has shown commitment in her work in support of women with breast cancer
- The recipient has made an important contribution to the development of breast cancer support groups in Malaysia
The first recipient of this award was Margaret Gooi.  | Margaret Gooi receives her award from
YB Dato’ Shahrizat at the Closing Ceremony
of the 1st Asia Pacific Reach to Recovery Breast Cancer Support Conference 2002 |
Margaret was diagnosed in 1979 at the age of 39 years old with breast cancer. She had 3 young children at that time. She had worked as a nurse previously. She underwent a mastectomy with no further treatment. At that time, counseling was almost unheard off. After recovery, she decided to help other women in her situation. In 1986, she was one of the founder members of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association. As a survivor of 23 years, she is experienced in counselling and is in charge of volunteer counsellors in the BCWA. Together with her team of counsellors and survivors, she regularly counsels patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, University Malaya Medical Centre and is now covering Putra Jaya Hospital as well. | 
