For three years now, on a certain Sunday every August, a swarm of people descends on IIT- Madras to generate awareness of the need for cancer research.
This year, the Terry Fox had a different flavour to it, for it was not only students from various schools and colleges, but working people employed in different companies, research professionals associated with hospitals and academic institutions and families who participated in large numbers in the six km run on Sunday.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Madras East, the event had people from companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Infosys and Wipro, among others. “With the software employees, it just takes a few seconds for the message to spread and gather support. The internal networking helps, and most of us are increasingly getting keen to know and contribute our bit to various causes,” said Vasanth Balachandran, an employee of TCS.
Placards with words, ‘Early is the key,' to stress the importance of early diagnosis in cancer cure, and ‘Watch your diet,' to draw people's attention to the kinds of cancer caused by some food items were part of the event too. Many participants, especially children, covered the distance on roller skates, while many youngsters did the same on bikes. “It was raining last night. I was praying that the event does not get cancelled. But it can be a little slippery, people need to be careful as they run,” said Vishal Balraivatal (7), a second-time participant at the run. A pledge board placed at one end of the auditorium recounted several experiences of participants with regard to cancer. “All of us, these days, have at least one relative or friend who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. It is time we focussed on the research needed for the cure,” said Anirudh Venkataraman, an MBA student.
The run is conducted all over the world in memory of the Canadian athlete and cancer activist Terry Fox. It is spearheaded here by a 19- year-old research student Akash Dube, also a cancer survivor, with support from several NGOs. “Besides spreading awareness of bone marrow donation that can benefit plenty of people diagnosed with plastic anaemia, we are also trying to inform people about the importance of screening for cancer,” said Sujatha Dube, Akash's mother.
Actors Sarath Kumar and Radhika Sharath Kumar inaugurated the run and participated in it. The funds generated would be given to Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and Cancer Institute, Chennai, to aid cancer research.
