Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society held a joint Celebration of Cancer Survivors Day & International Childhood Cancer Day in the Auditorium of Government Home Science College, Sector 10, Chandigarh. The theme of Cancer Survivors Day was ‘Celebration of life: there is life after cancer and it is meaningful’.
Dr. Ashish Gulia, Director, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Institute , Punjab presided over the function and Mr. Amandeep Bhatti, PCS, Director Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration was the Guest of Honour. Doctors from PGIMER, GMCH Sector 32, and General Hospital , Sec 16, Chandigarh also graced the occasion. The Chief Guest congratulated Sahayta on completion of 27 years of compassion and care and lauded the efforts of Sahayta for spreading awareness through screening camps and giving much needed succour to cancer afflicted families.
‘Umang’ by young survivors and ‘Chhotti Si Asha’ by Sahayta Survivors were the highlights of the celebrations. ‘Jeevan Shakti award’ was presented to Mrs. Shimona Talwar and ‘Bal Jeevan Shakti Award’ to Priyanka Mittal for having faced the disease bravely and being a source of inspiration to others. ‘Donor of the Year Award’ was given to Mrs. Ravinder Bhatia.
Renu Saigal, President, Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society presented the annual report highlighting the efforts made by Sahayta. Wg Cdr Ajay Tuli (Retd.) Administrator, Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society, said, “We will be holding comprehensive cancer screening camps in and around Chandigarh with the help of doctors from PGIMER and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Institute.”
Aaradhna Mittal, Founder Member Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society and Coordinator, Sahayta Bal Cancer Sahyog said, “The event was a tribute to the grit of children who are suffering from cancer. The idea was to provide them with platform to showcase their stories of fighting the disease and emerging victorious. This in turn will motivate other childhood cancer patients and their parents do not lose hope and fight the disease bravely.”
Mementos were given to Dr. Arvind Guru, Surgical Oncologist in Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Dr. Arihant, Assistant Professor Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology, PGIMER and to Dr. Alka Khadwal, Microbiology Specialist, PGIMER, who spoke on ‘Bone Marrow Transplant’. Mementos were presented to Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, Chandigarh and Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula for facilitating cancer awareness among their staff, students and parents.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks from Madhu Nagpal, Vice President, Sahayta Charitable Welfare Society with a promise to continue lighting the ray of hope for the cancer afflicted.
