A large number of people participated in an awareness run organised jointly by Dr. K. Shantha Breast Cancer Foundation, Dr. Viswanatham Speciality Hospital, and the Rotary Club of Srirangam in the city on Sunday as part of their breast cancer sensitisation initiative. The theme of the event “Run, Tiruchi Run” was organised in three categories.
For students above 14 years of age, the mammo run started from Mambala Salai; for women from K.A.P. Viswanatham Higher Secondary School in Thillai Nagar; and for corporate representatives, the run began from Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. The events were flagged off by A. Amalraj, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi Range, S.P. Rajeswari, Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, and V.P. Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, respectively.
The runners were received by cancer survivors at Anna Stadium. Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, gave away prizes to the winners - 12 men and 12 women - and also honoured the cancer survivors. She emphasised the importance of early detection of cancer. The Collector appreciated the efforts of two women survivors with artificial limbs for participating in the run, and felicitated them.
K. Govindaraj, managing trustee of the foundation, said about 3,300 people took part in the run organised to observe ‘Pink October’ when awareness programmes about breast cancer are held. The mammo bus, a mobile unit of the foundation, has been camping in rural areas of Tiruchi and its neighbouring districts for the past one year. Out of 1,600 women screened, three tested positive. Apart from providing low-cost test, the unit has been a success in early detection of breast cancer, he said.
