Helping cancer patients

Cancer treatment is expensive and it is unfortunate if the poor is further burdened by the disease. We try whatever best we can do to help these people. We identify families with low annual income and support the chemotherapy and other medical expenses for the afflicted family member,” says Aman Garg, president, Rotaract Club of Chandigarh Midtown, RID 3080.

The club has been organising a fundraiser event called Bowl Out Cancer to raise vital funds to aid individuals battling cancer in their arduous journey towards recovery. This is the third edition of the programme, the first version of the fundraiser was done in 2017 and the next was in 2023. “We supported two children in the two years, but sadly, both of them succumbed to the disease,” he says.

This year the club organised 255 games for two days at a gaming arena, The Game Palacio at the Nexus Elante Mall, in the city. The event team ensured extensive publicity for the games through social media, print and radio. Pamphlets and posters strategically placed at restaurants and coffee shops publicised the programme among youngsters. “An unexpected treat was the participation by English cricketer Sam Curran and few others from the New Zealand team. They were visiting the mall and it was a chance occasion,” smiles Garg.

Over 200 people participated in a variety of games. “The arena charged us a discounted rate of ₹300 a game and we charged the participants ₹450. When we explained to them the cause, they willingly participated in more games and tried to be a part of our programme,” he says. The endeavour helped the club raise ₹2.5 lakh which is being used to treat a 9-year-old girl battling blood cancer at the PGIMER, Chandigarh. “The annual income of her parents is a meagre ₹50,000 and they could not afford the medication and treatment.”

The club chartered in 1983 presently has 55 members. Other service projects done by them include distributing stationery and school bags to less privileged students and visiting orphanages and old age homes to cheer the inmates and provide support to them. The club recently conducted a TB awareness rally and distributed nutrition packs to people afflicted with the disease. A blood donation camp was organised on a large scale to help children with thalassaemia disorder as they need frequent blood transfusion.