NANCY Tea Ai Seng, the former national athlete who was injured after a fall and needed spinal surgery to correct a dislocated disc, is touched by the gesture of the public and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, in raising funds to help pay her medical bills.

The winner of two medals for Brunei at the 1999 SEA Games, injured her spine after a fall last July and has received treatment both overseas and in Brunei.

She said her recuperation is going smoothly and she is able to walk with the help of crutches.

In an interview, Nancy Tea said, “I feel touched by the support from the public and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah. Special thanks also to the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council for their support”.

“I was surprised to see His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and YAM Pg Muda ‘Abdul ‘Aleem join the Futsal tournament. Their support means a lot to me.”

Showing a strong spirit to recover, she said, “I am recuperating smoothly. I hope that I can walk by my own in another few months.

“I hope to start working soon because my heart and soul are at my workplace, while my body is at home. “

Yesterday’s Charity for Nancy Futsal event raised $2,400 and the final event in a series of charity activities is a netball tournament, for which the date has yet to be finalised.

The prizes for the Futsal event were handed over by Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Hj Abdullah, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Also in attendance were Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Awang Hj Ismail bin Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia Dato Paduka Hj Hashim, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. - Borneo Bulletin (12 February 2013)