Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister of India, will flag off the Walk, as she has done since its inception. She will be accompanied by Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar. This is a much awaited event of the Delhi calendar and it is expected that this time at least 10000 people will run or walk down Rajpath to show they care and to support the work CanSupport does for the neglected, underserved and suffering cancer patient.
Over the years, the ‘Walk for Life’ has attracted a number of ordinary people from different spheres of life as well as distinguished personalities many of whom continue to be associated with the walk. Besides Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, they include former Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, Jeannie Mulford wife of the former US Ambassador to India, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat, actors Sharmila Tagore and Rahul Bose, designer Ritu Kumar, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Krishna Poonia and several Ambassadors and Heads of Mission. They have all walked shoulder to shoulder with students, corporate executives, cancer survivors, medical professionals, caregivers, bureaucrats, expatriates and others to express their resolve to fight a disease that threatens us all today.
Lending her support this time is Manisha Koirala, Bollywood actress and a cancer survivor, along with many others who have battled the disease and emerged victorious. The message will be loud and clear: “There is life after cancer and we value every minute of it”.
“One in three people in the West are suffering or have suffered from cancer,” says Harmala Gupta, the Founder and President of CanSupport. “In our country, unfortunately, people suffering from cancer are often unaware of their exact condition or die without ever receiving a diagnosis or treatment”. Gupta, a cancer survivor herself, and CanSupport are active in providing palliative care to cancer patients, the majority of whom once they are declared incurable are left to fend for themselves in their most vulnerable and painful hour.
Approximately 3 million people are suffering from Cancer in India and one million new cases detected every year out of which 1/3rd die of the disease. Delhi and its surrounding towns Gurgaon, NOIDA, Ghaziabad and Faridabad have a cumulative population of about 15 million. These areas comprising the National Captial Region (NCR) have one of the highest cancer incidence rate in India. Delhi has about 200,000 cancer patients at any time, with 21,000 added annually. The gravity of the situation is that out of these, 75-80% are diagnosed an advanced stage (III or IV) when cure is no longer possible
The purpose of the walk is to alert everyone to the rising incidence of cancer, to show solidarity with those affected by cancer, and to raise funds for CanSupport’s free of charge and much needed palliative and supportive care services for people battling cancer. With this Walk, CanSupport aims to create awareness about how to reduce the risk of cancer and catch it early; honour the memory of those who have succumbed to the disease and to raise funds for CanSupport’s much valued services.
Elaborating on the subject, Harmala Gupta says, “As we live longer in today’s world our risk of cancer increases. Another risk factor is our more sedentary lifestyle. We should all take regular exercise, be conscious of eating healthy food and avoid tobacco in any form as preventative measures. For those 3 million people who have already been diagnosed with cancer in India today it is important they have access to treatments that are both appropriate and affordable. Palliative care programmes such as ours at CanSupport provide relief from suffering and help ease the turmoil of patients and families coping with advanced illness that threatens their dignity and quality of life along with their life.”.
The Registration Fee for the walk is Rs. 300 (for individuals), Rs.150 (for students with valid ID cards). Each registered participant’s kit includes a T-shirt and a bag. Enthusiast’s can register as an individual, with family and friends, or as a member of a group with your associates. To register online and for further details visit: www.walkforlifeindia.org.
About CanSupport:
CanSupport is a not-for-profit registered society that has since 1997 delivered palliative care, free of charge, to thousands of people battling cancer in Delhi and its neighborhood. Its pioneering home care service, delivered by a team of professionals trained in palliative care, is recognized worldwide and has brought much needed medical, nursing and emotional support to the doorstep of people battling with the advanced stages of cancer. The focus is on the underserved and the less privileged which is why CanSupport depends on donations and the goodwill of the public to sustain its programmes which are all offered free of charge. CanSupport also has a telephone helpline, a Day Care, peer support groups and counseling services. It is at the forefront of training medical professionals, nurses, counselors and caregivers in Delhi and the region. Besides the annual Foundation Course in Palliative Care it runs certificate courses in palliative medicine, nursing and counseling. For more details about CanSupport and the Walk for Life (you can register online) please visit www.cansupport.org.
