On Nov. 21, Friday, Can-stop organized an ABC (All a Bout Cancer) exhibition at AMM School, Chennai. The programme started with a prayer and the lighting of the Kutthu Villaku, an ancient ritual, by Mrs. Valli Alagappan, a patron of Can-Stop.
Mrs. Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan, founder of Can-Stop then explained about the Ray of Hope Banner and involved everyone towards hope and prayer for the cancer affected patients, through their participation of placing their hand print on the banner.
Mrs. Harmala Gupta, president of CACI (Cancer Care India) and Mr. P.K.Ghosh, general secretary, both cancer survivors, brought out the important messages which were to be spread throughout the country, through the CAP programme (Nationwide Cancer Awareness Programme) which was jointly launched by Cancer Care India and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) on May 26, 2003.
The important messages spread through this exhibition are:
• Cancer is preventable.
• Cancer is curable.
• Cancer is not contagious.
• There is life after Cancer.
• Do not get scared of Cancer but fight it.
As the programme mainly targeted the youth, stalls by various schools were put up and painting, slogan and oration competitions were organised.
Bala Vidya Mandir, St. Micheal’s Academy, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School were some of the many schools which had put up stalls on Lung, Oral, Cervic and other types of Cancer. Colourful charts, models of infected cells, poems, were displayed on the stalls. Stalls about various therapies used to cure cancer were also displayed.
An “ONCO Quiz” for the school students by Dr. Arjun Rajagopalan, Trustee and Medical Director, SMF was also held on the occasion.
Saniya joined the Team YOCee as Student Reporter for the year 2007 – 08. She continues to report for YOCee since then.
Saniya is a student of Padma Seshadri Bal Bhavan, Nungambakkam branch. She has a concern for the world around her. Protection of environment and making young people aware of the benefits of green and pollution-free environment is her mission. She writes on her blog – http://aspireblog.wordpress.com/