Malaysian man runs 2,200 km in memory of his late wife, carrying her photo

He began the 90-day run around Peninsular Malaysia on March 28, covering 11 states while raising money for childhood cancer, according to The Star.

“This journey is driven by love and remembrance. My wife and I dreamed of travelling around Peninsular Malaysia on foot,” he says.

Their plan was cut short after Goh fell seriously ill. In November 2023, the couple had celebrated her first race, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon, before she later developed severe stomach pain.

Although doctors first thought she had gallstones, she was diagnosed in April 2024 with stage four gallbladder cancer. She underwent chemotherapy in Australia, where their daughter works as a doctor, but passed away in August that year.

“Sometimes I’m upset with myself, sometimes I’m upset with the doctor. But it’s something you cannot change,” Lim says.

He says he wants to fulfill their plan to travel the peninsula together and raise awareness of the disease that cut their journey short.

His run starts and ends at the Home of Hope, a shelter for children undergoing cancer treatment and their low-income caregivers in Penang State, Malaysia.

Every day, Lim wakes as early as 4:30 a.m. to begin running at 6 a.m. and finish before noon. He plans to run 25-35 km a day, taking rest days in between and staying with local hosts or in shared accommodation.

While stopping in major towns, he will hold community events in collaboration with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM).

Lim has launched a crowdfunding campaign and aims to raise 600,000 ringgit (US$150,000) for NCSM by the end of the run. It has collected nearly 50,000 ringgit from both acquaintances and strangers so far.

His son is expected to join him toward the end of the run while his daughter supports him from Australia.

Lim has printed out multiple copies of Goh’s photos to bring with him on the run in case they get damaged.

“She’s not physically there, but I’m bringing her along with me, ” he says.

He is expected to finish the run on June 22, his 67th birthday.