Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), India’s premier cancer treatment, education and research centre and among the biggest cancer centres in the world and ImPaCCT Foundation, the Pediatric Foundation of Tata Memorial Hospital today celebrated “Hope 2015”, India’s biggest event by children battling cancer and cancer who survived Cancer. “HOPE” as the word signifies, is a strong and positive belief of victory over Cancer. It is a celebration to spread the message, that “Cancer is Curable”. Our efforts, in form of “HOPE”, started in 2006 and it is now the biggest annual event for paediatric cancer patients in Tata Memorial Hospital.
This year, Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, Actor Comedian Johnny Lever, Actor Amol Gupte & Ace Choreographer Bosco came along at Tata Memorial Hospital to celebrate life with cancer struck children. The theme this year for hope was Nritya, the art of expressions. Children who are battling cancer at Tata Memorial Hospital have been for the last one month attending various workshops on art, crafts, drawing & painting, music and dance. The kids have put together some beautiful performances and showcased their wonderful talent to all the children, parents, doctors, social workers, nurses and supporters present at the event.
Dr.Sripad Banavali, Head of Department, Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, says: “Childhood cancers are highly curable, provided they are diagnosed early & treated properly. However the treatment is very complex & expensive. It takes an entire “village” to treat a child with cancer in addition to finances! At Tata Memorial Hospital, through the ImPaCCT Foundation we provide holistic care to these children in the form of financial help, accommodation, nutrition, education, blood & platelets, entertainment, and much more. Our annual event HOPE is just one among many such initiatives at Tata that aims at providing holistic care to children. All this has helped us to reach closer to our ultimate goal that “Every child with cancer taking treatment at TMH deserves the best chance at cure”
Out of the 2000 child cancer patients that register at TMH every year, nearly 70% of the child patients at Tata are treated almost free of charge with the help of our sponsors and donors. Children treated at Tata Memorial Hospital have become doctors, engineers, IITians, designers, CAs and what not! Also its societal impact in terms of disruption of family life and generation of sympathy for its victims is far greater than cancer in the adults.
